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Starbucks to unveil decade-long research benefiting 'more than a million farmers' globally

In collaboration with the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, the company will release a decade of agronomy research available for commercialization.

April 9, 2015

Starbucks has unveiled advancements in research and transparency as part of its ethical sourcing program and support for a sustainable specialty coffee industry. In collaboration with the Costa Rican Coffee Institute, the company will release a decade of agronomy research available for commercialization, according to an announcement.

The research, combined with Starbucks transparent and sustainable sourcing initiatives, benefits more than a million farmers and workers around the world, the company said.

"The growth of specialty coffee is unprecedented, and the pressure this puts on the global coffee industry is both a challenge and an opportunity," said Craig Russell, executive vice president of Global Coffee for Starbucks, in a statement. "Reaching our ethical sourcing milestone shows that it can be done, and coupling this with our research advancements, we believe we are defining a sustainable way forward for our industry. We have been committed to farmers for over 40 years and will continue to find ways to bring social, environmental and economic advancements to them so that we can ensure that there is a future for farmers and our industry."

Starbucks Corporation also announced the release of second quarter fiscal 2015 financial results after the market close on Thursday, April 23, 2015, with a conference call to follow at 2:00 p.m. PT.