The Starbucks Coffee Company has launched its new Farmer Support Partnership (FSP) in India in association with Tata Starbucks.
Tata Starbucks, a joint venture formed in 2012, is preparing to open its 500th outlet in the country in late November 2025.
It will be a Starbucks Reserve site [a location serving what the brand regards as its rarest and best-quality coffees, usually single-origin] in the Delhi National Capital Region.
The initiative will be anchored in the state of Karnataka and aims to reach 10,000 farmers by 2030.
The Starbucks Coffee Trading Company, SARL (SCTC), the company’s global procurement and trading arm, will work alongside Tata Starbucks to roll out the programme.
Starbucks CEO and chairman Brian Niccol stated: “We’re partnering with Tata to shape the future of coffee in India, including supporting farmers, empowering communities and delivering the highest quality offerings to our customers.
“It’s a long-term commitment to build a stronger, more sustainable coffee ecosystem that benefits everyone, from bean to cup.”
The partnership is designed to bring together Tata Starbucks’ understanding of the domestic market, India’s long-standing coffee cultivation tradition, and Starbucks’ agronomy experience built up over several decades.
Farmers across major coffee-producing states – Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala – are expected to be part of the programme.
Under the FSP, model farms will be created in collaboration with farmers.
These demonstration sites will apply global knowledge to embed coffee agronomy best practice and trial sustainable approaches.
The Indian hub will also be used for testing new coffee varieties, sharing information on farming techniques suited to local conditions, and exploring agroforestry models aimed at improving crop quality, yields and resilience to climate-related risks.
As part of the initiative, Tata Starbucks will distribute one million high-yield Arabica seedlings to farmers by 2030.
Tata Starbucks CEO Sushant Dash commented: “Our commitment to India extends beyond growth, to investing in farmers, partners (employees) and customers to continue building a vibrant coffee culture.
“We will continue to serve the finest Arabica coffee from India and around the world, brought to life through the warm, welcoming third place experience that defines Starbucks.”
