News

January 12, 2009

On February 3rd, 2009, illycaffè announced that the company has established the Fondazione Ernesto Illy in honor of the first anniversary of the death of Dr. Ernesto Illy. Anna Rossi Illy, wife of the late Ernesto and at present new honorary president of the company, will serve as chairman of the Foundation.

 

The goal of the Foundation, which will operate globally, is to develop and increase the heritage of ideas, activities, and suggestions that Dr. Illy has left as his moral legacy.  The Foundation’s mission - in compliance with Dr. Illy’s teaching - consists of developing knowledge, ethics and sustainability not only as absolute values but also through practicing these principles throughout illy’s business.

 

The projects that the Foundation will support include:
• Research, preservation and development project of the native coffee plant in Ethiopia
• University degree or Master in Coffee Economy and Sciences with partnering Universities
• Genoma Network – a network of governments, universities and research centers working together to sequence and understand the coffee genome
• Project on flavor genetics “Predicting Taste Perceptions”
• The “Trieste Science Prize,” illy’s international science award, the will be named after Dr. Illy

Dr. Illy’s daughter, Anna Illy, will serve as vice-president of the Foundation.  His sons, Francesco, Riccardo, and Andrea are on the board of directors which is chaired by Roberto Morelli, director of illy’s Università del Caffè.

For more information on the Fondazione Ernesto Illy please contact myra.fiori@illyusa.net