Kuska Dry Mill Inauguration Recap: Innovation and Partnership at Origin

June 10, marked a milestone moment in Quillabamba with the official inauguration of the Kuska project’s green coffee processing dry mill, an initiative led by Ecotierra supported by the Urapi Sustainable Land Use Fund.

This milestone event gathered producers, cooperative leaders, institutional allies, and members of the coffee industry to celebrate a shared vision: building a more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient future for coffee at origin.

What Is Kuska?

Kuska is a 10-year, 10.8 million USD project that strengthens the leadership of COCLA and over 1,000 producer families in the Cusco region. The project integrates:

• Investment in agroforestry systems and sustainable farming practices

• Modernization of coffee and cacao processing infrastructure

• Development of value-added products such as roasted coffee, honey, and chocolate

• Access to carbon credits and climate finance

• Technical and financial support across the production chain

What Was Celebrated

The event marked the launch of Kuska’s state-of-the-art dry mill, built with Cimbria technology, with a processing capacity of 8.5 TN/h of parchment coffee or 7.0 TN/h of green coffee. Participants also toured the upgraded agroindustrial plant, now capable of roasting and packaging up to 126,000 kg of coffee per month. The facility also includes dedicated production lines for cacao and honey, designed to empower local entrepreneurs and producer-led brands. A key focus was placed on the 282+ hectares already impacted through Kuska’s sustainable land use strategy, which combines technical support and financing for coffee producers.

Highlights from the Inauguration

The event featured:

• A ribbon-cutting ceremony and welcoming remarks from COCLA leadership

• A detailed presentation of the Kuska model and its long-term goals

• Equipment demonstrations and plant tours

• Cultural performances, a cupping session, and open conversations with producers

More than a celebration, the event was an opportunity to reinforce existing alliances and build new ones with partners who share our commitment to origin-first transformation.

What Comes Next

With operations now underway, Kuska is poised to:

• Improve access to global markets for producers

• Raise quality standards through in-house processing

• Diversify rural incomes through cacao, honey, and value-added coffee

• Generate certified carbon credits

• Enhance climate resilience across participating cooperatives

A Message from the General Manager

“This inauguration marks a decisive step forward for the coffee sector in La Convención and for Kuska. We are proud to stand with producers in shaping a future that values origin, sustainability, and long-term partnership. We thank all who joined us for this event and continue to support our mission. Together, we are building something deeply rooted and future-facing.” - Carlos Neyra, general manager of Kuska

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