Starbucks Expands $70 Million Ethical Sourcing Program With New Global Agronomy Center

Starbucks purchasing 240-hectare Costa Rican farm to convert to global agronomy research and development center; strengthens climate change mitigation and long-term crop stability program; supports billion-dollar commitment to buying 100 percent ethically sourced coffee by 2015; allows for the development of coffee varietals in support of new, innovative blends

SEATTLE–(BUSINESS WIRE)– To help coffee farming communities around the world mitigate climate change impact, and support long-term crop stability, Starbucks Coffee Company (NAS: SBUX) today announced that it is expanding the company’s $70 million comprehensive ethical sourcing program with a new farming research and development center in Costa Rica. These programs are part of Starbucks ongoing billion-dollar commitment to ethically sourcing 100 percent of its coffee by 2015.

Starbucks will adapt this active 240-hectarefarm located on the slopes of the Poas Volcano into a global agronomy center. The work happening on this farm will enable the company to expand its Coffee and Farming Equity practices (C.A.F.E.), the industry-leading ethical sourcing model developed in partnership with Conservation International which ensures coffee quality while promoting social, environmental and economic standards.

In addition to supporting resiliency for farmers around the world, this farm will also influence the development of coffee varietals based on the insight offered through soil management processes. This proprietary work could offer significant advantage in the development of future blends.

“This investment, and the cumulative impact it will have when combined with programs we have put into place over the last forty years, will support the resiliency of coffee farmers and their families as well as the one million people that represent our collective coffee supply chain,” said Howard Schultz, Starbucks chairman, president and ceo. “It also opens up an opportunity for Starbucks to innovate with proprietary coffee varietals that can support the development of future blends.”

In total, Starbucks has invested more than $70 million in collaborative farmer programs and activities over the past 40 years, which include C.A.F.E. practices, farmer support centers, farmer loans and forest carbon projects. All of these integrated programs directly support improving farmer livelihoods and a long-term supply of high-quality coffee for …read more
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