Starbucks develops coffee seeds that can withstand climate change effects

Starbucks-developed seeds of arabica, which accounts for 70% of global coffee production, are cultivated to resist diseases

Starbucks recently announced that it has developed six new varieties of coffee seeds that can withstand the effects of climate change, which some experts say is critical" for the future of coffee.

People in the US drink about 517m cups of coffee a day collectively, with the average American consuming three cups on a daily basis. But coffee, like many other crops, is under threat due to the climate crisis - subject to diseases, droughts and extreme weather conditions.

This article was amended on 4 October 2023 to correct the number of Starbucks locations worldwide and the number of seeds given away each year.