Unlocking the potential of Cascara with impact entrepreneurship: a journey from coffee by-product to market innovation product development strategy

Abstract

This work project explores the innovative transformation of Cascara, a by-product of coffee production, into a functional, health-conscious beverage while laying the groundwork for an impactful and profitable business. Among global challenges in the coffee industry, such as economic vulnerability, social inequities, and environmental degradation, Cascara emerges as a promising solution. The project identifies opportunities for economic empowerment of small scale farmers, environmental conservation, and market innovation through Cascara's commercialization. The study follows a structured journey, addressing challenges and opportunities through diverse methodologies, ultimately identifying five key focus areas that got explored deeply: sourcing, product development, branding, sales, and finance. By adopting a circular value chain model, this work project aims to redefine the value chain, fostering sustainability and inspiring impact-driven entrepreneurship. The individual field lab focuses on the product development strategy for the Cascara-based beverage (CBB), bridging the gap between prototyping and scalable production. Using the Beverage Development Framework (BDF) and expert collaboration, key challenges in recipe refinement and manufacturing feasibility were addressed. Iterative testing, ingredient optimization, and strategic production decisions informed a roadmap for further product development.