Coffee Estates are fascinating, and especially the professionals working under the cover of lush greenery to get us that flavourful cup of coffee !

Somanna Aiyappa, our next pathbreaker, Head-Sustainability and Research (India) at Sucden Coffee, addresses the problem of carbon footprints that are left in the environment because of various production practices . 

Somanna talks to Shyam Krishnamurthy from The Interview Portal about one of his earliest experiences working at Tata Coffee in Annamalai (Tamilnadu), which is a core tiger reserve, as well as one of the largest Coffee estates in Asia where he got the opportunity to grow Coffee, Pepper ,Cardamom and Marmalade (oranges ).

For students, enjoy each day of your work, and use your expertise to create deeper impact on the larger eco-system !

Somanna,  can you share our background for our young readers?

I am from a tiny district called Coorg in Karnataka known for coffee production and lush green forests . I have finished my PhD from Anna University ,Chennai . I love playing hockey and I travel a lot with my family ! My parents come from an agricultural background and we are all settled in coorg ! 

What did you do for graduation/post graduation? 

I have done BCom from University of Mysore and MBA from VTU . I also did a PhD in Management Science from Anna University

Can you share with us some of the key influences that led you to such an offbeat, unconventional, and unique career in Coffee?

I have always had a keen interest towards conservation of nature which led me to agriculture, specifically coffee. I happened to land up in this profession by choice. 

I did my MBA specializing in marketing, and after that when I got into academics, I started pursuing PhD full time. It was my family who motivated me to take up this program . Right after my MBA and just before taking up academics, I was shortly associated with John distilleries working for their sales team . 

How did you make a transition to a new career? Tell us about your career path?

I was a teacher initially. Later when the industry  offered me a job which aligned with my interests, I took it and never looked back . 

I started as a teacher in the initial phase of my career. I started my PhD program when I was working as a teacher .The department I got enrolled in was ofcourse a rare area and it was due to the guide who advised me well. All through my studies, I have secured a merit seat and did not opt for any payment seats . 

During this time, I worked At Tata Coffee where I was mainly responsible for growing good coffee and adding value to the core Tata’s objectives .

The work nature was a combination of management and operations which involved managing a huge workforce. I was posted in Annamalai’s TN, which is a core tiger reserve and has wonderful landscapes. The estate which I was working for was the largest Coffee estate in Asia which had given me an opportunity to grow coffee, Pepper ,Cardamom and Marmalade (oranges ) .

I have also served as an Agronomist at Louis Dreyfus Company on the coffee platform.

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. The company’s  activities span a diversified range of business lines across the entire value chain, from origination to distribution, helping to feed and clothe upto 500 million people every year. 

The role was a complete shift into supporting the trade teams based out of Asia . The job involved conducting crop tours and in-depth analysis of market and product scenarios. 

I still continued to pursue my research work (PhD) thanks to my self determination, as it is not very easy to continue research once you start a full time corporate job as it is not well accepted.

Currently, I work with a soft commodities market leader, Sucden . 

I have also been awarded a PhD.

How did you get your first break?

My first break into the role that I aspired to work for was from TATA .

The shift from academics to a corporate job was really a rare shift. The passion towards coffee helped me to dive deep into this industry. 

What were some of the challenges you faced? How did you address them?

The challenges of growing in an environment surrounded by society which is always involved in a rat race . Personally, rather than comparing my work or benchmarking my achievements with other’s achievements, I strived for betterment each day and I keep doing it everyday . Whatever we do ,we need to do it true to our conscience . 

Where do you work now? 

I currently work for Sucden India. I solve the problem of carbon footprints that are left in the environment because of various production practices . 

Sucden is a global green coffee merchant. As an independent market leader in both Arabica and Robusta qualities, we build sustainable supply chains with our partners around the world.  What is our role in the coffee chain? We create opportunities for all by connecting supply and demand effectively, profitably and sustainably. 

What problems do you solve?

I work with the sustainability and research teams wherein we ensure that we supply responsibly grown coffee to our buyers around the globe. In research, I work closely with Global Head of Research, and India Country Head for country specific supply and demand analysis, which is to mainly ensure that the trade teams are well aware of the trends before making any decisions.

What skills are needed for your role? How did you acquire the skills?

Basically, one needs to have a keen interest towards the environment and nature. One should possess the enthusiasm and determination to hand over our nature to the next generation in a clean manner. These skills have been imbibed in me over the duration of my career through my work experiences !

What’s a typical day like? 

My day starts really early. I rise by 5 AM in the morning and do an hour of yoga and then help my family with regular morning chores . I start my work at 9 AM and end the day by 7 PM .I spend time with my child and family. I end my day with an early dinner . 

What is it you love about this job?

I love getting my hands on various environment related projects and I get to meet various like-minded people during the journey. I feel the purpose of my existence, though it may not be measurable, it definitely soothes my conscience .

How does your work benefit society? 

Society benefits on a large scale, with more value being added to production and leaving minimal footprints on our mother earth . 

Tell us an example of a specific memorable work you did that is very close to you!

Many to mention, but one thing I would like to mention is the mitigation of animal human conflicts in the state ! 

Your advice to students based on your experience? 

Enjoy each day, develop good habits and always think about your society and country first ! 

We should not take life too seriously by getting influenced by others.We are here to create our own impact and nurture ourselves into good humans .

Future Plans?

I would like to scale up more and more in this related field !