Strengthening coffee farmers in Honduras: New partnerships with Molina de Honduras and COMSA
The team from Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. (COMSA) in Honduras is excited to partner with Lutheran World Relief to strengthen market opportunities for coffee producers across the country.
Tegucigalpa, Honduras – Lutheran World Relief, a Corus International organization, has signed two new strategic partnership agreements under the Opportunities for a Circular and Inclusive Diversification in Agriculture (OCIDA) project. These alliances—with Molino de Honduras and Café Orgánico Marcala S.A. (COMSA)—will expand technical assistance, training and market opportunities for coffee producers across western Honduras.
OCIDA is a five-year initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada and led by Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA). The project promotes circular agriculture and aims to improve the socioeconomic well-being of smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth, while fostering resilience and diversified livelihoods. It currently benefits more than 7,000 producers and 80 rural enterprises across six departments: Copán, Santa Bárbara, Ocotepeque, Lempira, Intibucá and La Paz.
Partnership with Molina de Honduras
In the Montecillos Biological Reserve, home to some of Honduras’s most celebrated coffee, Lutheran World Relief and Molino de Honduras are working together to strengthen the productive and commercial capacities of more than 1,700 farmers in La Paz and Intibucá. The collaboration will provide access to technical training, on-farm support and direct commercial linkages that emphasize quality, traceability and environmentally responsible practices.
“Producers in Montecillos are stewards of both biodiversity and tradition,” said Karen Pavón, Director for Central America at Corus International. “This partnership allows us to support their legacy while building new opportunities in markets that value sustainability and innovation.”
As one of Honduras’s most established coffee exporters, Molino de Honduras brings critical infrastructure, market insights and a strong commitment to innovation—helping ensure that smallholder producers are better connected to global markets.
Partnership with COMSA
Lutheran World Relief has also signed an agreement with COMSA, a leading social enterprise based in Marcala, La Paz. This partnership will support 1,500 farming families in La Paz and Intibucá with training, tools and technical assistance that promote sustainable production models, crop diversification and circular economy approaches.
“This agreement represents a great opportunity to learn and pilot innovative strategies with farmers, communities, and stakeholders,” said Pavón. “By working together, we can strengthen broad-based and resilient economic development in a sector vital to rural economies and deeply tied to Honduran identity.”
Unlike traditional producer associations, COMSA operates as a social enterprise with a strong focus on environmental stewardship, economic justice and human development. Its approach makes it a powerful ally in advancing OCIDA’s vision of sustainable rural development.
A Shared Commitment
Both alliances emphasize the leadership of women and youth in transforming the coffee sector, recognizing their contributions as essential to building more resilient local economies. Together with AHPROCAFE, which joined OCIDA earlier this year, these partnerships demonstrate Lutheran World Relief’s commitment to reimagining Honduras’s coffee value chain—rooted in community, grounded in sustainability and driven by innovation.
