Membership

Name: World Coffee Research
Price range: $

You need choices, we make sure you have them.

We are 150 companies in 27 countries working to ensure the future of coffee.

Your Support

The challenges facing coffee are bigger than any one company can solve. Through collaborative investment in agricultural R&D, we create the foundation for a vibrant and sustainable coffee sector in diverse coffee origins.

Improve coffee’s goodness.

Through research, we improve how good coffee tastes, how good it is for the planet, and how good it is for people who grow it.

Sustain origin diversity and global supply.

Working in strategic geographies, we ensure the long-term supply of quality coffee from diverse origins.

Address the climate crisis.

R&D creates tools, technology and knowledge to reduce the risk that farmers and companies face from climate change.

Our Work

Testimonials

Coffee supports 12.5 million smallholder farmers around the world and 1.7 million jobs in the United States. There simply is no future for coffee without thriving, resilient coffee farmers, and WCR’s research is at the forefront of technologies and innovation needed to support coffee growing communities.

— William (Bill) Murray, CEO, National Coffee Association (USA)

Nobel prize winner Albert Szent-Györgyi once said, “research is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought”. World Coffee Research´s vision to create a toolbox of coffee varieties, genetic resources and accompanying technologies is indeed a perfect example. The European Coffee Federation believes it is essential for the coffee industry to support WCR's work and collaborative approach in order to ensure the sustainability of coffee farming.

— Eileen Gordon, Secretary General, European Coffee Federation (Belgium)

The medium and long challenges facing the coffee industry, as a consequence of changes in climate, are significant – but so are the opportunities. The work of WCR in helping us understand how we use science to positively address both is invaluable. WCR is laying the vital framework for members of the British Coffee Association and coffee companies globally to build on.

— Paul Rooke, Executive Director, British Coffee Association (United Kingdom)

Our purpose at the SCA is make specialty coffee a thriving, equitable, and sustainable activity for everyone in the value chain. Our members have supported the work of World Coffee Research since its inception because WCR’s research and extension work is vital to the future of specialty coffee.

— Yannis Apostolopoulos, Chief Executive Officer, Specialty Coffee Association (Global)

World Coffee Research is our industry’s Noah’s Arc. It seeks to map and capture all of coffees genetic diversity with the purpose of breeding plants that answer these enormous challenges, thereby providing a future for us all. Why would you not invest in your own future?

— Konrad Brits, Falcon Coffees (United Kingdom)

We partnered with WCR to demonstrate our commitment to the future of coffee. Their critical work at origin will help create a more sustainable coffee industry, a goal we are proud to support.

— Hillary Rodriguez, Primavera Coffee Importers (Guatemala)

By partnering with World Coffee Research we are able to support innovation in quality and productivity, creating tangible improvements for producers and consumers alike.

— Stephen Bannister, Managing Director, Condesa Co.Lab (Australia)

As a company on a mission to care for people and the planet, Blue Bottle is proud to support WCR’s work making coffee an ever more sustainable crop—for the environment and the people who grow it.

— Audrey Waldrop, Sustainability Manager, Blue Bottle Coffee (USA)

WCR is currently the only organization in the world applying advanced agricultural science for coffee on a world-wide, collaborative basis. Our decision to support this cutting-edge research is motivated by the recognition that the availability of high-quality planting material is an essential precondition for farmers to achieve sustainable livelihoods.

— Veronika Semelkova, Sucden Coffee (The Netherlands)

Today, an origin-focused and scientific approach is key and with WCR working for a long-term positive impact, we can only be humbled to be part of this community striving for a more virtuous cycle.

— Massimo Battaglia, Coffee Research Leader, Accademia Del Caffè Espresso (Italy)

Climate change and the inheritance of poverty are threatening the lives of coffee producers and the existence of coffee itself. WCR's projects are essential for the future. I'm happy to support them.

— Pil Hoon Seu, Coffee Libre (South Korea)

By investing in WCR, we have joined a collective effort to build a more sustainable future for coffee production and improve livelihoods for coffee farming communities.

— Fleur Studd, Melbourne Coffee Merchants (Australia)

Become a Member

Membership is open to any company whose business depends on or involves coffee and whose membership is consistent with WCR’s mission. Membership fees support all of WCR’s vital research activities.”

Checkoff Program

Contribution tied to coffee purchasing volumes.

For companies that purchase or trade coffee and want their WCR contribution built into the cost of coffee.

Learn more

Annual Contribution

A fixed contribution amount each year.

Works for any kind of company (roasters, retailers, allied, etc.) funding across departments (R&D, marketing, sustainability).

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Not sure which membership is right for your business? Use our support calculator to best determine your investment and impact. New membership provides for a three-year period of increasing investment. Please contact us to discuss in more detail, and ways we can help build internal stakeholder support.

Business Type

Pounds of Global Green Coffee Purchased Annually

Bags of Global Green Coffee Traded Annually

Coffee Industry Revenue Generated Annually (USD)

Checkoff Program

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Annual Contribution

Fixed Value

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Helpful Documents

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FAQ

World Coffee Research is an organization described by U.S. Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(5) as a nonprofit agricultural organization that is exempt from U.S. federal income tax and to which contributions are not tax deductible as charitable contributions but may be deductible as trade or business expenses. Please consult your tax advisor to determine whether and to the extent to which your donation may be deductible.

In 2022, WCR transitioned to a new funding model. Our historical funding model took a charity-like based approach, where contribution amounts were voluntary determined by each member company. The new model is structured as a membership model and links contribution amount to coffee purchase volumes or annual revenue. The transition provides greater equity and transparency among member companies and is more appropriate for securing the kind of long-term, sustainable funding required for agricultural research. Membership fees are unrestricted contributions that provide critical funding for all of WCR’s research activities.

We adopted a simple, straight-forward membership fee structure with three (3) primary categories for industry stakeholders to partner with us: roasters/manufacturers/retailers, green coffee suppliers/traders/decaffeinators, and allied companies in the coffee value chain (including equipment, flavoring, food, producers, consulting). If you don't see that your business fits into these categories but are keen to become a member, please contact us and we will be happy to discuss options with you.

Placement in volume/revenue bands is made using current-year figures, to determine membership rate for the following year. WCR membership will be on a calendar year basis. If a member company’s green coffee volume or volume-equivalent increases such that the company would move into a higher membership band, the member will have two years to reach the new target level. At the time of annual renewal, members can also change between the Fixed Rate annual contributions and Checkoff options.

Companies are encouraged to become members of WCR at their appropriate level, and new membership provides for a three-year period of increasing investment to reach the target level. Making a financial contribution to WCR at a lower amount is possible, but does not come with member benefits. Please contact us to discuss further.

The primary value of investment is ensuring the long-term supply of quality coffee from diverse origins. Our inclusive approach ensures innovations are relevant and deliver shared value for farmers, coffee origins, and the coffee industry. We measure our impact through key performance indicators and report on research progress in our Annual Report and other member updates.

In support of engaging companies in WCR’s work, we offer additional benefits proportionate to contribution and customize each membership. Please see our Member Benefits document above.

Enhance Your Contribution

We are part of 1% for the Planet!

WCR is an approved Nonprofit Partner of 1% for the Planet. Participating coffee businesses that participate can count their contributions to WCR toward their 1% for the Planet commitments.

Our Members

Our members—companies large and small—come together precompetitively to set a shared global agenda for coffee research. Their participation is a critical foundation for a vibrant and sustainable coffee sector.