Sustainable Coffee by 2030.. World Coffee Research Report

The World Coffee Research (WCR) 2024 Annual Report unveils an ambitious, science-driven strategy to combat climate challenges threatening coffee production. With $10 million in renewed commitments, global breeding networks expanding in 11 producing nations, and a pioneering seed system strategy addressing coffee’s “missing middle,” WCR is accelerating efforts to secure a sustainable and diverse supply of quality coffee. The report highlights breakthroughs in breeding timelines, genetic purity enforcement, and robusta development, signaling a transformative shift for the global coffee industry.

In an era of climate uncertainty, World Coffee Research (WCR) is spearheading a scientific revolution in coffee agriculture, according to its recently released 2024 Annual Report. This global, industry-driven initiative—supported by over 200 companies in 29 countries—is reshaping how coffee is grown, distributed, and sustained for future generations.

$10 Million in Renewed Commitments Amid Industry Volatility

Amid historic price volatility and supply chain disruptions, WCR member companies doubled down on their support in 2024 with multi-year funding commitments totaling $10 million, alongside significant in-kind contributions. These funds are enabling a coordinated global effort to fast-track the development of climate-resilient varieties for both Arabica and Robusta, while also reinforcing the long-neglected foundation of global coffee cultivation: seed systems.

Breeding Innovation: Slashing Development Time from 20 Years to 8

The report spotlights a major scientific breakthrough—the launch of WCR’s speed breeding program. Traditionally requiring 20–30 years to develop new Arabica varieties, WCR’s program now promises to deliver commercial-ready trees in just 8 years, powered by genomics tools and controlled growing environments.

Through the Innovea Global Breeding Network, countries such as Peru, Costa Rica, Rwanda, and Uganda now host genetically diverse, high-performing Arabica trees that will undergo performance trials through 2030, with 100 improved Arabica varieties expected by that year.

Robusta Joins the Revolution

For the first time, Robusta coffee has been brought into the global breeding fold, with Vietnam, Uganda, and Ghana joining the new robusta network. These countries, which produce nearly half the world’s Robusta, received 1,000 new genotypes in 2024. The goal: combat disease, improve quality, and tailor trees to national markets.

This Robusta effort mirrors the successful Innovea model and underscores the increasing importance of this variety amid Arabica’s vulnerability to climate threats.

The “Missing Middle”: Seed Systems Take Center Stage

A central concern raised by the report is the inadequate seed system infrastructure in coffee-producing countries—a weak link in delivering innovation to farms. WCR calls this gap the “missing middle,” emphasizing that half of the world’s coffee trees need replacing by 2030, yet farmers lack access to the right plants.

In 2024, WCR worked across Peru, Uganda, Honduras, and Guatemala to:

• Establish verified, high-quality seed lots

• Eliminate genetic contamination using DNA testing

• Train over 100 nursery operators and seed producers

• Scale up 90,000 disease-resistant trees in Uganda alone

By 2028, Peru’s new seed lots could produce 4 million seedlings annually, dramatically increasing the availability of high-performance varieties like IPR107 and Paraneima.

Global Trials and Genomic Traceability

WCR continues to operate the world’s largest multilocation coffee variety trial (IMLVT), extended through 2029 in countries like India, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Kenya. These trials gather critical long-term data on yield, disease resistance, and sensory quality to inform future breeding.

In parallel, the CheckCAFE quality assurance program in Latin America delivered 4.7 million genetically verified seedlings, further advancing WCR’s mission of traceability and varietal integrity.

Policy Advocacy: Elevating Coffee on the Global Agenda

WCR’s 2024 report also marks a turning point in coffee policy advocacy. Through persistent engagement, WCR helped influence:

• USDA’s commitment to a joint national R&D strategy with the American coffee industry

• G7 nations naming coffee as a priority value chain, emphasizing R&D in genetics and sustainability

• Growing collaboration with multilateral institutions such as the ICO and UNIDO

These developments reflect an emerging consensus: coffee, as a global commodity, deserves systemic agricultural investment to stabilize rural livelihoods and ensure long-term supply.

Financial Overview: Strong Growth, Sustainable Vision

WCR closed 2024 with $6.06 million in income, up from previous years, with $5 million sourced directly from the coffee industry. Their total financial position now stands at $12.57 million, including pledges receivable, showing robust institutional health and commitment.

Industry Voices Call for Urgent Action

The report features endorsements from industry leaders such as:

• Matt Saurage (Community Coffee): “Investing in agricultural innovation is essential to protect our business and farmers.”

• Monique Oxender (Keurig Dr Pepper): “We can’t afford to compete over the future of coffee.”

• Pablo von Waldenfels (Tchibo): “Roasters know we can’t wait another day.”

These voices echo a shared understanding that scientific collaboration, not competition, is the key to coffee’s future.

Final Thoughts:

WCR’s 2024 Annual Report is not just a document—it’s a manifesto for the future of coffee. Through science, global cooperation, and a deepening investment in farmers’ access to better trees, WCR is catalyzing a transformation that could redefine coffee agriculture. As climate risks rise and supply chains remain fragile, the industry’s proactive investment in research, breeding, and seed system reform is no longer optional—it’s existential.