World of Coffee San Diego 2026

Dr. Ruth Bennett
Bird Friendly Program Director
Smithsonian Institution


Ruth Bennett is a Research Ecologist at the Smithsonian’s Conservation Biology Institute and Director of the Bird Friendly® program. Her work focuses on advancing biodiversity conservation in coffee and cocoa landscapes by linking ecological science, farmer extension services, and certification. She leads interdisciplinary research on biodiversity conservation, farm management, ecosystem services, and farmer decision-making at research sites across Latin America. Ruth works closely with producers, industry partners, and NGOs to promote practices that support livelihoods and conservation. She is committed to building science-based solutions that make biodiversity-friendly agriculture viable, impactful, and widely adopted across global supply chains.

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