Keurig Dr Pepper Hosts Coffee and Climate Leaders during Climate Week NYC

KDP hosted a panel entitled The Future of Coffee during Climate Week NYC to discuss the critical challenges and opportunities facing coffee and the coffee industry from climate change. Why? Because with rising temperatures and increasing climate concerns, some scientists warn that coffee crops are at risk of disappearing in our lifetime. Not on our watch. 

Expert panelists from the coffee industry included Monique Oxender, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at KDP; Dina Esposito, Assistant to the Administrator for the Bureau for Resilience, Environment, and Food Security at USAID; Willy Foote, Founder & CEO of Root Capital; James McLaughlin, Chair of the Board at World Coffee Research and CEO of Intelligentsia Coffee; and moderator Kavita Prakash-Mani, Founder of Dragonfly Advisory. 

The discussion centered on how climate change and economic uncertainty for smallholder farmers are impacting coffee, from farm to cup, and how unique, long-term investments, programs and partnerships can help to preserve the future of coffee and drive meaningful impact at scale. Key takeaways included: 

• The importance of maintaining a “farmer-first” approach. Smallholder farmers are the solutions-providers who should be at the forefront of the regenerative future of coffee. Too often, they’re excluded from the conversation and – critically – from the resourcing and financing available for climate adaptation. 

• There is power in convening the right partners over the long-term. We all must identify our unique assets and capabilities and harness the power of collective action – and then remain steadfast and patient in our commitments as the returns can only be delivered over the long term.  

• Innovative financing is an essential enabler of impact. With access to the right capital, technology and data, farmers will be much better equipped to adapt to the changing climate. This offers a pathway towards de-risking the transition to a climate-smart and resilient coffee future for one another and for farmers. 

• Agriculture research is a critical and underfunded solution. Collectively, we are advocating for more funding to research and distribute improved, climate-resilient coffee varietals that can thrive in different geographic regions. This is important because it protects the plant’s biodiversity and generates the unique flavor profiles that consumers want. 

Preceding the panel discussion, attendees enjoyed a lively networking session while sipping Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Nantucket Blend® Coffee and Intelligentsia Kenya Konyu AB Coffee. 

To learn more about our commitments to preserve the future of coffee, you can read more here.