Starbucks Launches New Phase of Resilient Coffee Tree Initiative with Costa Rica Focus

Starbucks commits 50 million additional resilient coffee trees to Costa Rica and other nations, following its 100 million tree milestone in the 10-year program.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 11:00 AM EDT

Source: The Tico Times

The 100 Million Milestone and Future Commitments

After nearly a decade of sustained investment in agricultural sustainability, Starbucks confirmed it has met its foundational goal of 100 million tree donations. Building on this momentum, the coffee giant has committed to distributing an additional 50 million trees to strategic global regions. Along with Costa Rica, the second phase will target major coffee-producing nations including Ethiopia, Tanzania, Indonesia, Honduras, and Colombia. The company maintains that the long-term viability of the global coffee supply depends entirely on the economic and environmental stability of the farmers at the start of the supply chain.

Research and Development at Hacienda Alsacia

A critical component of this program is the research conducted at Hacienda Alsacia, Starbucks' 240-hectare global agronomy headquarters located in Sabanilla de Alajuela, Costa Rica. Situated on the slopes of the Poás Volcano, the farm serves as a living laboratory where agronomists study soil management, pest pressure, and drought tolerance. The findings and the specific seedlings developed at Hacienda Alsacia are shared openly with producers to help them adapt to shifting rainfall patterns and rising temperatures that have increasingly impacted traditional Arabica harvests.

Transformative Analysis: Strategic Supply Chain Resilience

By selecting Costa Rica as a focal point for this new phase, Starbucks is doubling down on a region that serves as its primary innovation hub. Unlike traditional corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs, this initiative operates as a strategic necessity; climate change has intensified "La Roya" (coffee leaf rust) and other diseases that threaten the specialty coffee market. The distribution of these "stronger" varieties is a direct attempt to stabilize the yields of small-scale farmers, ensuring that high-quality Costa Rican coffee remains a viable enterprise for future generations despite volatile weather cycles.