What’s next for coffee?
It’s a question we think about every day.
Because while we’re busy roasting, brewing, and sharing coffee with you, there’s a bigger picture unfolding at origin—on the farms, in the soil, and in the hands of the people who grow it. That’s where World Coffee Research (WCR) comes in.
At One Village Coffee, we believe that the future of coffee is rooted in care: care for the planet, care for people, and care for the cup. That’s why we invest in World Coffee Research as part of our sustainability commitment—and as proud members of 1% for the Planet.
WCR brings together over 200 coffee companies (including us) across nearly 30 countries to help coffee thrive—from seed to sip. ;-)
Why does WCR exist?
WCR exists to grow, protect, and enhance supplies of quality coffee while improving the livelihoods of the families who produce it. Through science-based agricultural research, WCR is helping develop better coffee trees—ones that are more resilient to climate change, more productive for farmers, and more flavorful for all of us.
Coffee, but make it future-proof
Think about it this way: The coffee we drink today is the result of research conducted years ago. The coffee we’ll enjoy tomorrow? It depends on the work being done right now. WCR focuses on four key areas to support farmers and the coffee supply chain:
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Breeding new climate-resilient, high-quality coffee varieties
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Field trials to test how these varieties perform in different environments
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Seed systems that ensure farmers can access these better plants
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Global leadership to align the industry on shared goals and solutions
Across the coffee belt, they’re getting better trees into the hands of farmers—trees that can withstand disease, produce more coffee, and reduce the need for harmful chemicals.
Why does this matter to us?
Because coffee starts at the source—and the challenges farmers face are only growing. Climate change, pests, and outdated farming infrastructure all threaten the future of coffee.
Supporting WCR means helping to - sustain origin diversity and the global coffee supply, improve farmer livelihoods and crop resilience, reduce environmental impact through smarter agriculture, and build a sustainable coffee sector for generations to come.
What progress looks like
The future of coffee isn't abstract—it’s being planted right now. Here are just a few highlights from WCR's groundbreaking work over the past year:
5,000 genetically unique Arabica trees—the most diverse set ever created—have been installed in field trials across the globe, thanks to the Innovea Global Breeding Network. This milestone is years in the making and sets the stage for more resilient, high-performing coffee plants.
Robusta is getting a research boost. WCR has formed new breeding partnerships with Vietnam, Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda, and India—an exciting move to ensure Robusta varieties evolve with climate demands and farmer needs.
Better seeds, in more hands. In Peru, WCR and local partners have established 10 new seed lots of improved varieties—enough to grow around 4 million plants annually. In Uganda, 90,000 disease-resistant plants have already been moved into farmers’ hands, with even more nursery infrastructure being developed.
WCR is also investing in education—training more than 100 nursery operators and seed producers in Uganda to make sure the tools of resilience don’t just exist—they’re accessible.
This is what real, scalable sustainability looks like: research translated into action, reaching farmers where they are.
Our role in the village
As roasters, we know our job isn’t just to source great coffee—it’s to support the people and ecosystems behind it. Partnering with World Coffee Research is just one way we’re doing that.
We’re proud to stand alongside hundreds of other coffee companies to ensure a better future for farmers, for coffee, and for you. We’re proud to be part of a global effort to create lasting change. And we’re excited to see what the future holds.
Want to dig deeper?
Follow World Coffee Research on Instagram and LinkedIn, or visit their site to learn how research is reshaping the coffee industry.
Together, we’re creating the future of coffee—and we’re just getting started.
