World Coffee Research is a non-profit agricultural research organisation. Formed in 2012 through the recognition that innovation in coffee agriculture is necessary to deliver increased quality, reduce supply chain risk and transform coffee producing into a profitable, sustainable livelihood that can meet rising demand while also safeguarding natural resources.

Timeline: 2017-present, on-going

Since 2017 over $250k in research funding has been contributed to World Coffee Research by Falcon and our customers.

“Research is an essential basis for improving the ‘goodness’ of coffee: how good it tastes, how good it is for the planet’, and how good it is for the people who grow it”

– World Coffee Research

Who is World Coffee Research?

World Coffee Research is a non-profit agricultural research organisation. Formed in 2012 through the recognition that innovation in coffee agriculture is necessary to deliver increased quality, reduce supply chain risk and transform coffee producing into a profitable, sustainable livelihood that can meet rising demand while also safeguarding natural resources.

Why invest in the future of coffee?

Through investment in coffee R&D, we can improve and preserve its inherent quality, how good it is for the planet, and how good it is for people who grow it. R&D creates tools, technology and knowledge to reduce the risk that farmers and companies face from unpredictable climate impact. The knowledge and resources generated flow downstream for the benefit of millions of farmers around the world and achieves impact at scale.

Why agricultural research?

Science is essential for securing the long-term, sustainable supply of quality coffee. Improved varieties reduce farmers’ risk and improve climate resilience and productivity—leading to “more good beans from each tree”—and are a critical factor in reducing the GHG emissions of coffee agriculture and reducing deforestation. The research we conduct today will determine what coffee we drink in the future—and using advances in agricultural science it is possible to dramatically improve coffee yields, quality, climate resilience and farmer profitability.

What does WCR do?

WCR works to make better plants available and accessible to farmers to enhance coffee productivity, profitability, quality, and climate resilience. It supports the professionalisation of nurseries and seed systems, conducts variety trials, and accelerates breeding system modernisation. WCR is working in 11 countries that are critical for supporting origin diversity.

These 11 focus countries contain 50% of the world’s 12.5 million family coffee farms and produce 30% of the global supply of coffee. WCR’s goal is to enhance the competitiveness of these key countries and their ability to address major threats to supplies of quality coffee.
In 2023, WCR continues its research into developing high-yield, climate resistant varieties through its F1 Hybrid Trials .

Falcon and The Checkoff Program

WCR has created a ‘checkoff program’ as a way for coffee roasters to establish and direct a per/lb premium on their coffee purchases towards research funding.

Roasters can decide on a contribution of cents per/lb of green coffee, from 1/10 to 1 cent per pound. The contribution is calibrated to volume and built into the cost of the green coffee.
Since 2017, Falcon with our customers have invested over $250,000 in contributions to World Coffee Research.

If you are interested in participating or learning more, please contact us.