Mumbai: Italy-based illycaffè SpA, the world''s leading roaster of quality Espresso coffee, synonymous with fine coffee, has announced that it will conduct, for the second year in a row, the India Quality Awards for growers of quality Arabica plantation A coffee beans.

After the successful completion of the first round of awards which were declared on 18 October 2003, illycaffè has decided to continue the awards, which comprise a citation and a cash award of the equivalent of $10,000 for the first runner-up, with the cash award of the equivalent of $7,000 for the second runner-up and $5000 for the third runner-up. The best coffee in each region of growth in India, if it comes within the final 15 lots, will also be awarded a Certificate of Regional Champion. Top 15 growers will also be awarded certificates of merit.

The illycaffè India Coffee Quality Prize is modelled on the famous Brazilian Quality Award, also instituted and administered by illycaffè, which is now in its 13^th year. The India award is planned as an annual exercise enabling Indian producers of quality Arabica to join the elite ranks of suppliers of coffee beans to illy, for processing and marketing under its brand. Every day over 5 million cups of illy''s unique blend of espresso Arabica coffee are served around the world.

illycaffè buys green coffee directly from the growers of the highest quality Arabica through partnerships based on the mutual creation of value. The company fosters long-term collaborations with the world''s best coffee growers — in Brazil, Central America, India and Africa — providing know-how and technology and offering above-market prices.

"From the very first year, our aim has been that the illycaffè India Coffee Quality Prize should become the catalyst for a quality movement among the coffee growers in this country," says Andrea Illy, CEO, illycaffè. "We have been buying green coffee from India for over six years now, and find that Indian coffee compares well in terms of taste and organolectic characteristics, with that produced in Brazil and other parts of the world. I see great potential for a growing partnership amongst us and Indian coffee planters."

The award process is carefully designed and executed to ensure participation of all interested growers, and careful screening to enforce strict adherence to quality of the beans. In India, illycaffè has tied up with Bangalore-based Coffeelab Pvt Ltd to manage the execution of the competition. Under the competition, growers of Quality Arabica Plantation A Coffee beans in India have to submit their samples, for evaluation to Coffeelab.

Approved samples will then be dispatched to illycaffè at Trieste in Italy, for further evaluation. Qualifying samples will then be forwarded to illy''s buying agency for finalisation of commercial terms for becoming a global supplier to illy. Once a grower becomes a global supplier, fresh samples will be taken from the export lot, which will be submitted for the competition, which if found matching the earlier sample, will be considered a valid contestant for the prize.