The Glacier Trust and Happy Barista Launch Charity Coffee Roast Supporting Climate Resilience in Nepal

The Glacier Trust and Happy Barista are proud to announce an inspiring collaboration marked by the release of a special charity coffee roast, sourced from the Solukhumbu region of Nepal—an area central to The Glacier Trust’s climate adaptation work. The launch marks the first-ever roasting of Solukhumbu coffee beans in the UK, highlighting both the uniqueness of the region and the success of climate change adaptation methods.

The limited-edition Solukhumbu Charity Roast celebrates a decade-long effort to support local farmers in transitioning to coffee cultivation as a sustainable response to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and intense rainfall events have made traditional subsistence farming increasingly difficult and risky in the Himalayan foothills. With support from North Yorkshire-based charity The Glacier Trust, farmers in Solukhumbu have adapted by growing high-quality coffee – a crop, when grown in a layered agroforestry system, which is well suited to the changing conditions, and capable of providing long-term economic stability.

Solukhumbu District, located in the Himalayan region of Nepal and home to Mount Everest, is not a traditional coffee area but The Glacier Trust and implementing partner, the NGO EcoHimal, have extensively trained local farmers, who adopted new practices and systems to include thousands of new coffee seedlings, allowing them to adapt to a changing climate that has shifted local environmental conditions, making coffee production increasingly viable.

“We are thrilled to partner with Happy Barista to bring attention to the incredible people of Solukhumbu and the climate adaptation initiatives underway,” said Mark Holmes, Executive Director of The Glacier Trust. “This collaboration is about more than just exceptional coffee - it’s about supporting vulnerable communities facing the harsh realities of climate change.”

County Durham roasters, Happy Barista, known for its ethically sourced and expertly crafted coffee, worked closely with The Glacier Trust to ensure the roast highlights the region’s unique flavour profile while directly supporting the farmers.

“This partnership is deeply meaningful to us,” said Tom Bolland of Happy Barista. “We believe coffee can be a force for good, and this project is a testament to that belief. Every cup of this roast tells a story of resilience, community, and hope.”

Proceeds from each sale will directly support The Glacier Trust’s ongoing work in Nepal, which includes agroforestry, climate-resilient farming, water resource management, and climate education and research - crucial components in helping communities adapt to the increasing pressures of a warming planet.

Scoring 83/100 on a recent Q-grading, putting it within the range of very good coffee, the Solukhumbu Charity Roast is available starting today through Happy Barista’s coffee pod and online store. Customers are invited to enjoy the rich, vibrant flavours while contributing to vital climate action efforts in Nepal.

For more information, visit www.theglaciertrust.org or www.happybarista.com.