SPREAD is a continuation of Texas A&M’s long-term commitment to help build sustainable agriculture and develop beneficial agribusiness opportunities in Rwanda.
Early efforts included working with Rwanda’s coffee growers to help them meet specialty coffee market specifications like those demanded by Starbucks, Green Mountain and other high-end coffee companies.
 
SPREAD works with coffee cooperatives, industry groups and other organizations to establish and improve coffee washing stations, professionalize coffee processing and enhance product quality.
 
SPREAD, Bikes to Rwanda, Vision Finance, and Scallywags Bike Shop united behind the farmers’ cause and, thanks to their efforts, there are over 1,000 coffee cargo bikes in Rwanda, empowering farmers to get their crops to washing stations more quickly, ensuring that they get optimal payment for their efforts. Through a micro-credit system offered within coffee cooperatives, farmers are able to pay for their bikes with the additional income they earn from the increased quality of their coffee.