In 2024, World Coffee Research (WCR) launched a groundbreaking program to develop hardier, higher-yielding robusta coffee plants. By early 2025, seeds from its initial crosses—combining genetic diversity from global breeding programs like CIRAD—were harvested. These new plants aim to enhance climate resilience, helping farmers adapt to rising temperatures and pests. Seedlings have entered propagation facilities, with thousands set for global trials by 2027. The effort’s demand-led design, shaped by input across the coffee supply chain, guarantees new varieties meet real-world needs for productivity and durability.
WCR’s 2024 robusta breeding program combines global genetics for climate resilience, with propagation ongoing and worldwide trials set for 2027 through industry collaboration. (25 words)
Nestlé has also reported progress, creating two non-GMO robusta varieties that yield up to 50% more beans per tree. Higher yields let farmers grow more coffee on the same land, cutting fertilizer and energy use. This efficiency reduces the carbon footprint of green coffee beans by 30%, a critical gain since beans account for 40-80% of a cup’s emissions. One variety is already being tested and used commercially in Central America.
WCR’s program prioritizes traits like drought tolerance and disease resistance, targeting threats like coffee leaf rust. While rust has historically hurt arabica crops, strengthening robusta’s defenses provides a buffer for farmers as climates shift. Nestlé’s parallel development of rust-resistant Arabica varieties merges higher yields with immunity to the devastating fungus. Multi-regional trials across Africa, Asia, and Latin America will identify varieties suited to local conditions, supported by genotyping to confirm genetic traits. Initial partners in Ghana, Uganda, Vietnam will host trials to test regional adaptability.
The initiative taps robusta’s broad genetic diversity, crossing plants from different lineages and using CIRAD’s seed collections. This diversity helps combat diseases and environmental stresses while improving yields. Innovations like clonal propagation confirm trial plants are genetically identical, speeding up testing. Robusta’s genetics have also aided arabica breeding—like the disease-resistant Timor hybrid—showing how breakthroughs in one species can uplift others.
Propagation takes roughly two years before distribution, with performance trials spanning six years to confirm which varieties qualify for official registration. If successful, the program could redefine robusta’s role in a warming world, offering farmers reliable crops and shrinking coffee’s environmental impact.
