Starbucks to Distribute 50 Million Climate-Resilient Coffee Seedlings in Ethiopia

March 30, 2026 | EBR

Global coffee giant Starbucks has announced the distribution of 50 million coffee seedlings specifically developed to withstand the pressures of climate change on global coffee production. This distribution will target key coffee-producing nations, including Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, alongside Tanzania, Indonesia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Honduras. Since launching this initiative in 2017, the company has already delivered 100 million climate-resilient seedlings to smallholder farmers in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.

A Lifeline for Ethiopian Producers

The inclusion of Ethiopia, Africa's leading coffee producer, is seen as a vital intervention. Currently, Ethiopian coffee farmers are battling rising temperatures, erratic rainfall patterns, and the spread of pests and diseases such as the "Coffee Borer" and "Leaf Rust."

While Ethiopia achieved a record $2.65 billion in coffee export revenue during the 2024/25 fiscal year, recent data from "CropGPT" indicates that rainfall shortages in key growing regions continue to threaten future productivity.

Science-Backed Resilience

The seedlings were developed at Starbucks' research center in Costa Rica in partnership with Conservation International. They are specifically bred to thrive in harsh climatic conditions. This comes at a critical time, as the International Coffee Organization (ICO) estimates that up to 50% of current coffee-growing land could be lost to climate change by 2050.

For Ethiopia, where over 15 million citizens depend on the coffee sector and coffee accounts for 25% of total export earnings, the distribution of these resilient varieties is essential for the long-term sustainability of the industry.