What coffee company announced in March 2026 it reached the milestone of donating 100 million coffee trees to farmers globally?

Starbucks, the global coffee company, announced in March 2026 that it achieved the significant milestone of donating 100 million coffee trees to farmers worldwide. This accomplishment underscores the company's long-standing commitment to supporting the sustainability of coffee farming and the livelihoods of coffee growers.

This initiative is crucial because coffee farming faces numerous challenges, particularly from climate change, which leads to shifting rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and increased prevalence of pests and diseases like coffee leaf rust. These factors can severely impact coffee tree productivity and, consequently, the income of smallholder farmers. By providing resilient, high-quality coffee tree varieties, Starbucks aims to help farmers adapt to these changing conditions and ensure the long-term viability of their farms.

The journey to this milestone began in 2017 when Starbucks set a goal to donate 100 million trees by 2025, building on earlier efforts. The donated trees are often developed through research conducted at Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks' global agronomy research and development farm in Costa Rica, where agronomists study new varieties for disease tolerance and overall performance. The program initially focused on farmers in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, where many farms were struggling with aging or disease-prone plots.

Looking ahead, Starbucks plans to donate an additional 50 million coffee trees to farmers in various strategic coffee-growing regions, including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Honduras. This continued effort highlights the ongoing need to invest in sustainable practices and support coffee communities globally to secure the future of high-quality arabica coffee.