We are pleased to invite you to the panel discussion “From the mine to the bench: the journey of responsibly sourced metal”, which will take place on Tuesday 29 September at 6 pm at Artesania Catalunya. The discussion will be moderated by Roc Majoral and will feature Jessica Charry and Diego Perdomo, representatives of the Cooperativa Multiactiva Agrominera de Íquira; Marcin Piersiak, Director of the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) in Europe; and Adriana Díaz, jeweller and member of the ORIGEN – Gold for Future collective.

The conversation will give us an opportunity to learn more about the cooperative’s history and mining practices, and to bring them into dialogue with responsible jewellery, following the metal’s value chain from its origin in the mountains of Íquira to its transformation into a piece of jewellery in a workshop in Barcelona.

This is a unique opportunity to speak directly with a Fairmined-certified mining organisation and explore the questions that we, as a sector, often ask ourselves about the sustainability of extraction and processing methods, working conditions and community development. It is also a particularly valuable moment for Catalan jewellery brands that use Íquira gold and silver, as well as for people who choose these jewellery pieces and want to know more about the story behind the materials that make them possible.

The event will be held in Spanish. Attendance is free, with prior registration via this form.

 A leading example of responsible artisanal and small-scale mining

 The Cooperativa Multiactiva Agrominera de Íquira (Íquira Multi-active Agromining Cooperative), located in the department of Huila, Colombia, is one of the leading examples of responsible artisanal and small-scale mining. Its history is closely linked to agriculture. The cooperative was founded in 2004, when a group of miners and coffee growers from the area organised themselves in order to carry out their mining activities legally. Since then, it has worked to make underground mining compatible with the region’s traditional agricultural activities, particularly coffee growing.

In 2014, after a decade of learning and implementing changes, the cooperative reached a milestone that marked a turning point in its history: it achieved Fairmined certification, awarded by the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM). It is now the mining organisation in Colombia that has held this certification for the longest period, ensuring that the precious metals extracted meet high standards of social and environmental responsibility. It produces gold and also silver, which is extracted as a by-product of gold.

With Fairmined certification, the cooperative’s activities and the life of the community underwent significant changes. It progressively eliminated the use of hazardous chemicals such as mercury, introduced new technologies in its mineral processing plants and water recirculation systems, and adopted increasingly safer working practices. At the same time, it has helped to create employment in the municipality, improve infrastructure and support the wellbeing of families, among other benefits.