Luiz Saldanha assumes the presidency of BSCA.

The Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association (BSCA) has officially inaugurated its new board of directors for the 2026/27 term. Agricultural engineer Luiz Roberto Saldanha (pictured) assumes the presidency of the organization, with Wellington Carlos Pereira (Cocarive) as vice-president. The new administration faces the challenge of further connecting the production chain to the end consumer, prioritizing traceability and innovation.

The election, held in December, had its minutes completed last Friday (30). Under Saldanha's leadership, BSCA intends to continue the institution's 35-year legacy, but with a keen eye on new market demands, such as the integration of Arabica and Canephora species into the portfolio of Brazilian specialty coffees.

Pillars of Management: Education and Added Value

One of the central points of the new two-year period will be the strengthening of the BSCA Academy. According to Saldanha, the goal is to expand the frontiers of technical knowledge.

"Brazil ranks second in the world in consumption and is a leader in production. We will intensify the work of our academia and seek world-class partnerships to offer cutting-edge training to professionals from all coffee-growing regions of the country," emphasizes the new president.

In addition to traditional quality competitions and barista championships, management will focus on:

• Sustainability and traceability: to ensure that the value generated reaches all links in the chain.
• International promotion: To reinforce Brazil's image at global events as the leading provider of unique sensory experiences.

Profile of the New President

Luiz Saldanha brings a robust technical and executive background. Owner of Fazenda Califórnia (PR) and founder of the exporter Capricornio Coffees, he has over two decades of experience in the sector. With a degree from Esalq/USP and specializations from UTFPR and UFLA, Saldanha is an international judge for the Cup of Excellence and a certified instructor by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI). His international activities include serving on the board of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA), which should facilitate communication between Brazilian coffee and the main global markets.