This list highlights the best cases of companies that have managed to overcome social challenges as complementary part of their business strategies in Colombia
ISA was included thanks to its Programa para la Especialidad del Café -PEC- (Specialty Coffee Program), a social and business initiative that benefits coffee growers of Antioquia.
The announcement was made during the 5th Colombian Business Congress and the 76th National Assembly of ANDI.
On Thursday, the ISA Group was recognized as one of the 18 INspiradoras (inspiring companies) during the 5th Colombian Business Congress and the 76th National Assembly of ANDI, by ANDI and its Foundation, USAID, Acdi/Voca, and Portafolio. 80 initiatives participated in this third edition, where labor inclusion, recycling, and circular economy topics stood out.

This initiative identifies and recognizes companies that succeed the most in including the vulnerable population in their value chain, generating a positive social impact while improving business competitiveness. Given this approach, ISA is included in the list because of its support and participation in the Programa para la Especialidad del Café -PEC- (Specialty Coffee Program), promoted by its affiliate ISA INTERCOLOMBIA within the framework of the alliance with the Coffee Cluster of the Chamber of Commerce of Medellin for Antioquia, Comfama, and the SENA to boost the comprehensive development of coffee farming in Antioquia.

Besides promoting integrated production, the program has directly benefited 110 coffee growing families of 15 municipalities in the southwest and west of Antioquia, influence area of ISA’s energy infrastructure, through guidance and promotion of a business model that is economically, socially, and environmentally sustainable.

“The ISA 2030 strategy prioritizes the creation of sustainable value and, within this goal, generating a positive environmental and social impact. This recognition ratifies our higher purpose of creating connections that inspire by implementing initiatives that go beyond compliance with the law, materializing our genuine commitment to the wellbeing of the communities, being convinced that our projects will be feasible and sustainable if the environments where we operate are also feasible and sustainable,” Bernardo Vargas Gibsone, ISA’s CEO, said.

The project’s actions include: development of markets for specialty coffee; support and training in finance and soft skills for agribusiness families; promotion of a mindful consumption culture; placing Antioquia’s coffee in sophisticated coffee markets of the world; connecting the different stakeholders and market sectors and channels focused on achieving that the price of specialty coffee benefits, primarily, the coffee growing families; and local sale through institutional channels, such as supplying coffee to ISA’s Medellin employees and business events.

With this initiative, it is expected to migrate from a commodity model that is exposed to the risk of volatility in the price of coffee beans to a competitive, sustainable model of specialty coffee growing with a business approach, generational renovation, and fair compensation along the chain, while creating trusting relationships with the ISA’s stakeholders.