Seattle, WA – In a bid to address the mounting challenges posed by climate change to the global coffee industry, Starbucks has unveiled a groundbreaking development – six new varieties of coffee seeds bred to withstand the escalating impacts of a warming planet.
The urgency of this innovation is underscored by the fact that people in the United States collectively consume approximately 517 million cups of coffee daily, with the average American indulging in three cups each day. However, coffee, like various other crops, is confronted by a formidable threat due to the climate crisis. It is increasingly susceptible to diseases, prolonged droughts, and extreme climatic fluctuations.
The global coffee supply primarily hinges on two species: arabica and robusta. Arabica, constituting 70% of the world’s coffee production, has consistently been favored for its smoother flavor profile, lower acidity, and subtle fruity undertones compared to the grainy, more bitter characteristics of robusta. Predominantly grown in Central and South America, arabica is native to Ethiopia and remains the sole coffee bean employed by Starbucks across its nearly 37,000 outlets worldwide. However, arabica’s vulnerability to rising temperatures renders it highly susceptible to premature ripening and substantial crop losses.
“More researchers dedicated to producing climate-resilient coffee varieties are crucial,” remarked Sarada Krishnan, a coffee scientist and grower. Robusta, characterized by a denser bean, generally exhibits greater tolerance to heat, rendering it a more manageable crop to cultivate. In contrast, arabica’s limited genetic diversity makes it susceptible to diseases such as coffee leaf rust—a fungus that proliferates in warmer, wetter conditions.
Smallholder coffee farmers are particularly susceptible to the devastation caused by coffee leaf rust, which can obliterate entire harvests, decimating the annual income of those dependent on coffee cultivation. Krishnan, who herself owns an arabica coffee farm in Jamaica, spoke of the dire consequences of grappling with this disease firsthand. “Last year, as we approached the end of the harvest, rust struck. Allowing rust to overtake your plants results in a five-year wait before they bear fruit again.”
Starbucks has embarked on a concerted effort to breed arabica seeds that are fortified against the ravages of coffee leaf rust. Rigorous testing has demonstrated that these Starbucks-developed seeds not only display resistance to the disease but also yield a greater coffee crop in a shorter span. The company’s agronomy team meticulously oversees the cultivation of diverse seed varieties and hybrids, examining the trees’ disease resistance and nutrient absorption over approximately six generations, amounting to a span of about 12 years.
“Starbucks remains steadfastly committed to securing the future of coffee,” affirmed a company spokesperson via email. “We recognize our responsibility to safeguard the entire supply chain, supporting the multitude of individuals who contribute to making coffee accessible—from the cultivation of beans to the moment it reaches the customer’s cup.”
Starbucks is actively distributing its six climate-resilient coffee tree varieties to farmers, with the freedom to sell the resultant harvest to buyers beyond the Starbucks network. The coffee giant procures coffee from approximately 400,000 farmers spanning 30 nations. Over the past five years, Starbucks has distributed three million climate-resistant seeds annually, developed by various entities, to farms situated in Costa Rica, Honduras, Peru, Mexico, China, Indonesia, Guatemala, and Nicaragua.
As the global community grapples with the evolving climate crisis, Starbucks’ innovative approach to cultivating climate-resilient coffee seeds serves as a significant step toward safeguarding the future of one of the world’s most beloved beverages.