Cornell University and World Coffee Research announce five-year partnership

The programme will develop tools to increase the precision and speed of coffee breeding | Photo credit: World Coffee Research

New York-based Cornell University and World Coffee Research (WCR) are launching a new initiative focused on improving climate resilience and productivity among smallholder coffee farmers globally. 
 

The five-year Coffee Improvement Program is being led by Cornell’s Innovation Lab for Crop Improvement (ILCI) and has been backed by over $5m from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). 

In a joint press release, Cornell University and WCR said the programme will develop tools to increase the precision and speed of coffee breeding, with a focus on identifying genetic markers for coffee berry disease and coffee leaf rust, both of which currently pose significant threats to coffee yields.   

According to WCR, more than 12 million smallholder coffee farmers globally currently produce 60% of the world’s coffee. However, these producers are increasingly at risk from climate change and face additional challenges to profitability and yield growth from limited agricultural innovation. 

“Coffee is an integral part of the global economy, employing 2.2 million Americans and contributing $343bn to the US economy alone. Ensuring the resilience of coffee smallholders is essential for both local economies and global supply chains. This collaboration with Cornell will accelerate the development of the next generation of coffee varieties, benefiting both smallholder farmers and the coffee industry,” said Vern Long, CEO of WCR. 

Cornell’s ILCI was established in 2019 with an initial $25m grant from USAID. In October 2024, the research department was awarded a second five-year $25m grant from USAID to support demand-driven, socially responsive crop improvement programmes in key regions around the world.