Coffee Rust Reaches New Heights in Central America

Rising temperatures and climate change have put the Central American coffee industry into crisis mode with economic repercussions for the region, reports the Associated Press. A fungus called “coffee rust” is destroying coffee plants. So far, there is no known cure. Farmers manage harvests by spraying or replacing infected trees. Disease-resistant plants have been developed, but planting new seedlings delay harvests by at least two years, the article reports. Rural towns dependent on coffee production face job losses and income reductions, prompting the United Nations to step in and provide emergency food aid. According to the London-based International Coffee Organization, infection rates range from 74 percent in El Salvador to 25 percent in the Honduras. Larger coffee producers, such as Brazil and Southern Mexico, are also vulnerable due to severe droughts. Production is anticipated to drop and prices rise. Management is key in controlling the fast-spreading disease. Some governments hope to replace 20 percent of the coffee plants each year. – YaleGlobal