The Hawaii Coffee Association is set to host the final session of its webinar series on the Hawaiian coffee industry. Scheduled for 10 a.m. on Jan. 25, this marks the third and concluding webinar focusing on the coffee leaf rust disease in Hawaii.
The upcoming webinar will revolve around a discussion about coffee leaf rust resistant varieties, featuring Tracie Matsumoto as per the information on the Hawaii Coffee Association’s website. The inaugural seminar in this series explored the cultural, biological, and chemical implications of coffee leaf rust disease in Hawaii with Melissa Johnson as the guest speaker. The second session addressed strategies to control coffee leaf rust disease, led by guest speaker Lisa Keith.
The American Phytopathological Society explains that coffee leaf rust is a disease capable of infecting coffee crops, subsequently leading to a significant decline in the quality of the plant’s fruit. As one of the most vital agricultural products in international trade, any disease affecting coffee plants can have considerable economic implications. Coffee leaf rust is particularly damaging and is prevalent in almost every coffee-growing region globally.
In October 2020, the United States Department of Agriculture confirmed for the first time that coffee leaf rust had been found in Hawaii, according to information from the Kona Coffee Farmers Association. This marked an end to Hawaii’s status as one of the last major coffee-growing areas free from coffee leaf rust.
As stated by the Hawaii Coffee Association, this webinar is free and serves as a resource for both its members and the wider community. Following each presentation, there will be an opportunity for attendees to participate in a question and answer session.
The mission of the Hawaii Coffee Association, as outlined on its website, “is to provide a forum for education, communication, and pursuit of shared goals that are beneficial to sustained profitability of entire Hawaii coffee industry.” Through these webinars among other initiatives, it aims to educate not just its members but also extend knowledge to the broader Hawaiian coffee community.
