Starbucks Strengthens Coffee Research: New Farms in Latin America and Beyond

Starbucks is expanding its coffee research network through new farms in Guatemala and Costa Rica, with future investments planned in Africa and Asia. Through these initiatives, the company aims to enhance the productivity, profitability, and climate resilience of coffee cultivation. As one of the world's largest purchasers of Arabica beans, Starbucks faces challenges posed by climate change: rising temperatures, droughts, and coffee rust disease threaten the quality and availability of coffee as well as the livelihoods of farmers. At Hacienda Alsacia in Costa Rica, Starbucks is taking measures to address these challenges. The new farm in Costa Rica will focus on mechanized processes and drone technologies to combat labor shortages. In Guatemala, research is centered on hybrid coffee varieties at different altitudes and soil conditions to explore genetic diversity. These initiatives reflect the real challenges many small-scale farmers face. Starbucks plans to establish an innovation-driven network with future investments in Africa and Asia, stretching across the essential coffee belt regions of Latin America, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific. This will help explore diverse cultures, landscapes, and cultivation methods that influence coffee flavor. "Through these innovation farms, we are developing solutions that not only improve coffee production and quality but also equip farmers with the necessary tools and knowledge to succeed in a changing world and under challenging climate conditions," stated Roberto Vega, Starbucks Vice President of Global Coffee Agronomy, R&D, and Sustainability. Starbucks emphasized that these efforts are conducted with coffee farmers worldwide in mind, offering insights that can also be applied in other industries and crops threatened by climate change.