Location: Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research
Project Number: 2040-22430-027-030-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2017
End Date: Aug 31, 2022
Objective:
The overall goal of this project is to define, test and implement suites of control strategies in a location-specific IPM system that can optimally control coffee berry borer (CBB) across the variable coffee-growing landscapes in Hawaii. Specific objectives are to: 1) Use electronic systems, field visits, and sensor network data to collect baseline data on CBB and coffee plant dynamics across the landscape in Hawaii. 2) Apply baseline data and research results to define, validate, and assess optimal strategies for CBB control across the landscape. 3) Assess the economic impact of data-driven IPM customization. 4) Provide growers in Hawaii real-time data and projections on CBB populations, plus recommendations on optimized control via electronic databases, models and digital content delivery.
Approach:
The approach includes an areawide program to control coffee berry borer (CBB) that can adapt to the complex and variable landscape of the coffee growing regions of Hawaii. The main operational component of this program is a comprehensive monitoring system backed by a network of sensors and GIS data integrated with ground data collection on farms within three coffee growing areas on two islands. This monitoring program is the primary scaffold that will enable research, outreach/technology transfer and assessment components by 1) serving as a baseline against which to compare IPM variations in nearby farms; 2) serving to parameterize the models in development to produce projections of CBB for ecologically diverse locations; and 3) serving as a natural experiment to help us understand how environmental factors affect CBB population dynamics at a fundamental level. Ultimately, we expect the monitoring to drive the IPM recommendations for different parts of the Hawaiian islands. The research component aims to fill in knowledge gaps and define optimal IPM elements based on local conditions. Outreach and technology transfer will assist coffee growers in field monitoring and optimizing IPM for specific locations in an economic manner. Finally, the assessment component will quantify the improvement in coffee product and economics across the landscape. Program information will be disseminated to and by state-wide extension personnel, all coffee associations, and the industry-wide CBB Task Force.
