In 2024, World Coffee Research (WCR)—with investment from 200+ member companies from 29 countries and in collaboration with its global partners—made tremendous progress toward the development and distribution of tomorrow’s climate-resilient coffee varieties. WCR’s team, spread across 16 countries, continued to drive scientific innovation for the coffee sector to increase the access and availability of high-quality planting materials, ensuring that farmers today and in decades to come will have the choices they need to sustain their livelihoods.
“Despite our industry facing historic high coffee prices that have revealed the vulnerability of supply in the face of increasing consolidation and climate shocks, I am more confident than ever that the future of coffee is bright,” said WCR CEO Dr. Vern Long. “WCR’s model of global, collaborative, industry-driven coffee variety development will deliver economic benefits to farmers, stabilize export revenues for coffee countries, and ensure access to high-quality beans for roasters, retailers, and coffee drinkers around the world.”
The 2024 annual report includes updates on WCR’s four major program areas—breeding, trials, nursery, and global leadership—and highlights from the progress achieved over the past year alongside its global members and partners.
Note: Japanese and Korean translations will be made available in the coming weeks.