illycaffé has announced it will be launching a new ‘illy Farm-to-Table’ scholarship program that is designed to support the education and advancement of students who are pursuing the concentration in farm-to-table sustainable course at the Culinary Institute of America (CIA).
“Sustainability is part of illy’s DNA,” says Jack Edwards, President of illycaffè North America. “Our recently launched ‘One Makes The Difference’ initiative communicates that everyone can make a difference in working toward a sustainable world, and this scholarship will help students who share that vision achieve their dreams.”
The CIA’s farm to table concentration course is available to students who are studying a bachelor’s degree in food business management or applied food studies. It provides students with an opportunity to explore topics such as advanced cooking, the ecology of food, sustainable food systems, and chef-community relations.
Students in this concentration also learn how to source ingredients from local farms, fields, and forests, learning to develop menus based on what they can source.
The CIA will award two to four scholarships to eligible CIA students through a competitive essay application.
“As the popularity of our farm-to-table concentration continues to grow, there is [a] greater need for support for students in that program,” says Kevin Allan, Vice President of Advancement at the CIA. “We are grateful for this scholarship, and for illy’s ongoing support of the CIA’s educational mission.”
illycaffé has been supporting the CIA for nearly a decade through its Bakery Café that provides students with hands-on experience in coffee education. It functions as a student-run bakery and café, located at the CIA in Greystone, California.
illy says it has also been focused on increasing sustainable operations for more than 85 years with its One Makes The Difference initiative highlighting the brand’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2033.
“[The initiative] embodies the continuous development of sustainable agronomical techniques, products, and solutions that competently respond to consumer needs by using less material and energy resources to reduce environmental impact,” illy says.
In early 2021, illycaffé also partnered with the Michelin Guide Green Star in Europe and the United States to recognise the restaurants and chefs who are at the forefront of sustainability in gastronomy. In April 2021, illycaffè also became the first global Italian coffee company to obtain B-Corp status.
For more information, visit www.illy.com/en-us/home