The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), the world’s leading body in coffee quality training and certification, has awarded Q Venue recognition to the Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA).
The UCDA Coffee Laboratory is now internationally recognized as a centre of excellence for coffee quality assessment and allows UCDA to offer Q Arabica and Q Robusta training, especially to the youth interested in building a career in the coffee industry.
“This milestone reaffirms our commitment to improving the quality of Uganda coffee, promoting value addition, and driving positive change in the coffee industry,” UCDA said in a statement.
According to UCDA, locations certified with Coffee Quality Institute let the world know that they meet international standards.
The Q Venue provides a consistent, predictable learning environment where educators know that they will have the tools and space they need to deliver courses that maintain international standards.
The Q venue supports the certification of Q Arabica and Q Robusta graders who are highly specialized coffee professionals who are able to speak the same language with other professionals internationally with regards to coffee quality. They are able to differentiate specialty Arabica and Fine Robusta coffees that are sought for in specialty markets thus fetching premium prices. These will be able to advise farmers on how to improve the quality of their coffees and benefit from these niche markets.