Earlier this month, the GCC team was able to convene in Medellín for our first all-hands, in-person meeting. The pandemic has been a challenge for connecting a global team—members are located in the US, UK, and around Colombia—so it was an important chance to put as many people in one room, Zoom-free, to discuss major plans and visions. Though the lockdown measures in Medellín proved to be another barrier during the visit, the team was able to hunker down in a hotel to get significant work done. With all proper precautions, we were able to safely plan our future.
Some highlights of the week:
Innovation
President Boris Wüllner Garces presented the incredible technological investments that are happening across the farms in Salgar. Using xFarm, a platform created by farmers for farmers, the software will allow the team to track, monitor, and learn more about the 11 farms in a comprehensive way. It’s a great opportunity to reduce paperwork, improve efficiency and sustainability, and allow for better traceability of products.
Quality
Our design and architecture partner presented a selection of 3-D renderings that highlight significant changes for the wet mills that are underway at several of the farms. Not only will the updates and new construction enhance the sites visually, but they will make way for innovative improvements during each stage of the coffee production process.
Productivity
The team was able to make their way to Salgar for a visit to La Esmeralda, El Leon, and La Grecia. Each farm was lush with greenery, flowers, and life, as workers were busy preparing for the upcoming mitaca harvest season. Having a chance to understand the geography and span of GCC’s operations and seeing the improvements already underway on many of the farms was a special moment—especially as many new team members had not had the chance until now.
Look forward to learning more about all these advancements happening at GCC in the coming months. We are excited to share our plans and projects with you.