Initiative to boost climate resilience, improve productivity, and donate one million Arabica seedlings
In a major push to strengthen India’s coffee value chain, Starbucks Coffee Company and Tata Starbucks Private Limited have announced the launch of a Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) aimed at empowering 10,000 Indian coffee farmers by 2030. The collaboration combines Starbucks’ global agronomy expertise with Tata’s deep-rooted knowledge of Indian coffee-growing landscapes.
The partnership was unveiled during Starbucks Global Chairman and CEO Brian Niccol’s visit to India, aligning with the company’s rapid expansion and the upcoming milestone of its 500th store in the country.
A Karnataka-Based Hub for Global Agronomy Integration
The FSP, headquartered in Karnataka, will connect local agronomists and growers with Starbucks’ global open-source agronomy network. The initiative brings together:
- Tata Starbucks’ on-ground experience
- India’s longstanding coffee-growing traditions
- Starbucks’ decades of global research and development
The goal is to uplift farmers across key producing regions — Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala — through innovation, training, and climate-focused solutions.
Model Farms to Build Climate-Ready Coffee Practices
At the heart of the FSP will be technical “model farms”, co-created with growers. These farms will serve as live demonstration sites to:
- Test climate-resilient practices
- Improve agronomy efficiency
- Explore regenerative agriculture solutions
- Spread best practices in sustainability and productivity
The initiative marks one of Starbucks’ most ambitious farmer-outreach programs in India to date.
Supporting the Value Chain With 1 Million High-Yield Arabica Seedlings
To strengthen long-term coffee productivity and profitability, Tata Starbucks will donate one million high-yield Arabica seedlings over the next five years. These varieties are expected to help Indian farmers improve both crop quality and farm incomes.
The partnership’s core commitments over the next five years include:
- Unlocking productivity
- Boosting farm profitability
- Building climate resilience
- Strengthening sustainable farming systems
Digital Tools and Global Knowledge Networks
Starting 2026, Indian farmers will gain access to Starbucks’ digital training tools, providing modules on:
- Advanced agronomy
- Coffee quality improvement
- C.A.F.E. (Coffee and Farmer Equity) sourcing standards
- Regenerative agriculture (Regen-Ag)
- Efficient carbon, water, and waste management
The FSP will also integrate knowledge from Starbucks’ global agronomy hubs in:
- North Sumatra (Indonesia)
- Yunnan (China)
- Hacienda Alsacia (Costa Rica) — Starbucks' first company-owned coffee farm and R&D headquarters
“A Long-Term Commitment to India’s Coffee Future”
During his India visit, Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol said:
“India is one of our fastest-growing markets. We’re partnering with Tata to shape the future of coffee in India — supporting farmers, empowering communities, and delivering the highest quality offerings to our customers.”
He emphasised that the FSP is designed to build a resilient, sustainable, and profitable ecosystem for everyone involved, from farmers to consumers.
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