Mobilizing support for research on coffee's critical challenges

Problem

The problems facing coffee producers and coffee businesses are huge—bigger than any single industry or organization can tackle alone. Many of coffee's challenges extend beyond WCR's core focus area of variety improvement, but they are critically important for sustainable agricultural development. Development donors and private sector investors are eager to include coffee in their portfolios and want to make their investments as impactful as possible, but lack guidance and direction on which problems should be prioritized.

Solution

Through its "global leadership" function, WCR works to generate consensus on the most important challenges facing coffee for which agricultural R&D can provide solutions, and to mobilize support for research to address these challenges.

How does it work?

1. WCR works with national partners, research institutions, and the global industry to define shared priorities and elevate the most important questions for which research and funding is required.
2. WCR uses its influence and harnesses the collective power of its member companies around the world to mobilize public and private sector investment toward defined priorities, or engages relevant experts to tackle the topic.

Current advocacy efforts

World Coffee Research is a registered lobbying organization and engages in advocacy activities in the U.S. in close coordination with the National Coffee Association, in order to secure deeper levels of public investment for coffee agricultural research aligned with the global shared agenda.

For U.S.-based coffee companies interested in driving legislative action in support of coffee agricultural R&D, please read more about coffee advocacy priorities below, and contact WCR to get involved.

For any company interested in supporting the Coffee Plant Health Initiative Act, WCR can provide template letters for sending to your Member of Congress in support of cosponsoring this legislation.

For Congressional staffers interested in understanding more about why coffee cares about the Coffee Plant Health Initiative Act and the Farm Bill, please see the below resources.

Additional resources

• Read more about the Coffee Plant Health Initiative
• Read the Coffee Plant Health Initiative Act (HR 965)

Past Advocacy

2022 U.S. Advocacy priorities and wins (117th Congress)

• Resource: Coffee R&D Priorities 2022
  
• Resource: Why Coffee Cares about CPHIAA
• Resource: Why Coffee Cares about the Global Food Security Act

• Win! Global Food Security Act passed with increased funding and language we supported regarding smallholder farmers, international markets, and greater accountability for research spending
• Win! Congressional budget passed with an increase in funding for a USDA research grants program that can benefit coffee agriculture
• Win! Congressional budget passed with accompanying language encouraging USAID to fund coffee agricultural research
• Win! CPHIAA introduced and built momentum for a re-introduction in 2023 around the Farm Bill