Following on from the success of this year’s Producer & Roaster Forum (PRF) in Colombia, the two-day forum is set to return to El Salvador in 2023. The first-ever PRF was previously held in El Salvador in 2016.

PRF El Salvador will take place from 16 to 17 March 2023 at the Salamanca Exhibition Centre in San Salvador. Next year’s event will be the sixth of its kind – welcoming local producers, as well as international roasters, traders, and more.

Taking place in Central and South America, PRF will champion Latin America as a leading coffee knowledge centre. The event will have a focus on sharing expertise about coffee production, and seeks to include producers in important conversations – meaning farmers are active participants rather than passive recipients.

At the forum, attendees will have the chance to participate in workshops, cuppings, presentations, and other activities. As with previous events, PRF El Salvador will host a range of international industry leaders who will give speeches and lectures across both days. These will cover a range of key issues and areas of interest for the global coffee industry.

If you think your values align with the event, and you want to help drive green coffee sales in El Salvador, speaker applications are now open!

Read on to learn more about the event, the responsibilities of being a speaker, and how you can apply.

Learn more about PRF El Salvador here.

What is Producer & Roaster Forum?

PRF is an industry-leading event that gathers coffee professionals from around the world to empower producers and drive green coffee sales in Latin America.

Julio Guevara is the Director of PRF.

“First and foremost, PRF is a place to connect with industry experts and professionals from all over the world,” he explains. “It’s a coffee hub in Latin America open for global exposure and opportunities.”

PRF also serves as a platform to discuss the most pressing issues facing the coffee industry, as well as encouraging discussion on providing solutions.

What happens at PRF?

Every year, PRF hosts a two-day forum where guest speakers will address the thousands of international attendees. In 2022, PRF Colombia welcomed thousands of people over the two days, with even more expected to attend PRF El Salvador next year.

In addition to these talks, the forum will also feature educational workshops, panel discussions, cupping events, presentations by market leaders, and more.

The goal of PRF El Salvador is to facilitate green coffee sales for coffee farmers in the country by providing a platform for producers and buyers to network. As part of this, coffee farmers are placed at the forefront of discussions and included in important conversations. In doing so, PRF can champion Latin America as a leading coffee knowledge centre, therefore supporting its producers in more sustainable ways.

The event also will have an Exhibition Arena where industry experts will share their knowledge, experiences, and visions for the future of coffee.

This is an excellent opportunity to raise awareness of the issues that matter to you and your company or organisation, as well as sharing knowledge and educating other attendees. 

Why El Salvador?

“El Salvador has a burgeoning coffee industry, with producers growing some of the world’s best shade-grown coffee,” says Julio. 

Coffee was first harvested in El Salvador in the early 19th century. Since then, it has become one of the leading specialty coffee origins in Central America – producing sought-after varieties such as Pacamara and Pacas.

“Despite this, however, it hasn’t historically been a major destination for industry events,” he adds. “As such, we see an opportunity to bring a high-quality, industry-leading forum to the country to promote Salvadoran coffee on the international stage.”

Julio also says that El Salvador is an international trade hub within Central America, as it’s well connected to international markets and an easily accessible travel destination. Overall, El Salvador was a clear choice for the next PRF event.

Who should apply to become a speaker?

PRF aims to bring together leading coffee experts and professionals from all levels of the supply chain. As this event specifically targets producers and roasters, we encourage both to apply, but all actors and stakeholders are welcome. 

“Speakers will share their knowledge and expertise in new ways, with a focus on ideas that are shaping their business and industry sector,” Julio explains.

If you are a coffee professional in any capacity, you’re eligible to apply to become a speaker. We do, however, request that applicants have at least five years of experience in their respective fields, as well as some degree of experience in public speaking. Speakers are also expected to present for around 20 minutes.

Applications are open to both English and Spanish-speaking coffee professionals – PRF will provide simultaneous translations for attendees.

More importantly, we need speakers to offer something beneficial or educational to attendees. Whether that is a passion for sustainability, insight into upcoming industry trends, or discussing new technologies in the coffee sector, PRF aims to provide a platform to speakers who strive to make the coffee industry a better place for all.

Speeches at PRF events are also focused on the needs of the host origin in question, with the aim of delivering value for key industry stakeholders in the country – specifically producers. Therefore, we ask that speeches be tailored to an audience of Central American coffee professionals – including the hundreds of roasters and producers who will attend.

This ensures that at PRF El Salvador, each presentation will provide real value for attendees in the Salvadoran coffee sector. As such, we are specifically encouraging Salvadoran coffee professionals to apply to speak. 

It’s also important to note that not all speakers are required to deliver speeches or lectures – PRF also hosts panel discussions, micro-lectures, and hands-on workshops. Applicants are also welcome to apply for these roles, too.

Talks cover a range of topics, which have in the past included:

• Emerging markets & origins
• The economics of coffee
• Coffee consumption trends
• Sustainability, transparency & traceability
• Coffee & the environment
• Gender equity in coffee
• Coffee production & data collection
• Coffee quality control

At PRF Colombia, those in attendance included founder of Mayorga Coffee, Martin Mayorga, COO of Ozone Coffee Roasters and 2017 World Barista Champion, Dale Harris, and Head of Coffee at Origin Coffee Roasters and three-time UK Cup Tasters winner, Freda Yuan.

Mayorga Coffee recently signed a groundbreaking, multi-year Diamond Sponsorship with PRF to champion Latin America as a leading coffee industry knowledge centre.

To watch talks from PRF Colombia, visit the PRF YouTube channel.

How can I apply?

If you’re interested in speaking at PRF El Salvador, please apply by 31 November 2022. The event will take place from 16 to 17 March 2023, and speakers will be finalised long before that.

To apply, please fill out the speaker application form in English here and in Spanish here.

If your application is successful, you will hear from PRF within a week of receiving your submission. You will then be required to submit a headshot and a short bio explaining your role in the coffee sector and the insight you plan to provide at the event.

PRF El Salvador is set to be even bigger than this year’s event, held in one of the most prominent coffee producers in Central America.

The event will take place from 16 to 17 March 2023 at the Salamanca Exhibition Centre in San Salvador.

To find out more about tickets for the Sourcing Trip Experience, a separate package which also includes access to the two-day PRF event, you can find more information here.

You can also take a look at lectures and panels from PRF Colombia and learn more about PRF.

Apply to be a PRF El Salvador speaker by filling out this form in English or this form in Spanish.

Photo credits: Jésus David, Camilo Días, Sergio González, Paulina Pérez

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