[Rome, Italy – October 17, 2025] Liberia is set to officially launch Coffee Liberica as its flagship product under the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) initiative, a global program that promotes distinctive agricultural products with high market and development potential.

The announcement follows a high-level meeting held at FAO Headquarters in Rome between Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah and the OCOP Secretariat under the Plant Production and Protection Division, headed by Mr. Yurdi Yasmi. The meeting brought together FAO regional representatives, technical experts, and officials from the Embassy of Liberia in Italy.

Liberia formally applied in 2024 to join the OCOP initiative, identifying Coffee Liberica, a rare and distinct coffee species indigenous to Liberia, as its priority product. FAO confirmed the application will be fast-tracked, ensuring the country can swiftly move toward the official launch. The move positions Liberia to become the first African country to launch a Coffee Liberica OCOP, highlighting its potential to compete alongside global coffee varieties like Arabica and Robusta. 

Both the Government of Liberia and FAO agreed on a roadmap to guide preparations for the official rollout of the program:

• Formation of a National Task Force bringing together the Ministry of Agriculture, research institutions such as the Central Agricultural Research Institute (CARI), and coffee farmer organizations.

• Nomination of three national focal points to coordinate implementation, government liaison, and technical activities.

• Mobilization of start-up funding under FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) to jumpstart the initiative in 2026.

• Tentative launch date set to align with the National Agriculture Fair (December 2- 6, 2025), depending on the FAO Director-General’s visit to Liberia 

The OCOP program supports countries in identifying and branding agricultural products that can transform local economies and strengthen food systems. By focusing on Coffee Liberica, Liberia aims to create new job opportunities in farming, processing, and export; attract private investment in agribusiness; and expand Liberia’s footprint in the international coffee market.

FAO also highlighted that Liberia will benefit from global exposure, capacity-building opportunities, international exhibitions, and South–South cooperation exchanges with other coffee-producing nations.

Minister Nuetah expressed gratitude to FAO for its partnership and reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to using Coffee Liberica as a symbol of agricultural innovation and economic empowerment