World Coffee Research (WCR) has announced Vietnam and Ghana have joined the Innovea Global Breeding Network – expanding the network to 11 countries that together produce 40 per cent of global supply.
The move will also accelerate development of climate-resilient, high-performing varieties for farmers worldwide.
Alongside the new members, WCR also revealed India, Indonesia, Rwanda, and Uganda will now add robusta breeding into their Innovea portfolio.
WCR CEO Dr Jennifer “Vern” Long says the organisation’s model of “collaborative variety development” brings together new genetic diversity, with a global network design focused on speed and cost effectiveness.
“We know farmers need improved arabica and robusta varieties as soon as possible – to withstand climate change, increase profitability, and ensure sustainable supplies – and we can accelerate progress by working together,” says Long.
WCR described the Innovea network, named as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025, as “the most ambitious and globally coordinated breeding program in history”, bringing together countries to “transform coffee breeding and enhanced genetics”.
The partnership among government research institutions in Asia, Latin America, and Africa gives participating countries access to new arabica and robusta genetic materials, modern breeding approaches, and shared tools.
The network’s robusta variety candidates are already being propagated for distribution to network participants.
Starting in 2027, each partner will receive 1000 unique new trees from WCR for performance testing and will work collaboratively to identify climate resilient options with a focus on high yield, disease resistance, and enhanced quality.
More information on the Innovea Global Breeding Network can be found here: worldcoffeeresearch.org
