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Excited today to get started on the first of three awesome guest lectures for third year Mycology #MICR3090
First up: Historian @stuartmccook from @UGuelphHist on the history and societal implications of the coffee rust pathogen
Here's what I'm learning!
First up: Historian @stuartmccook from @UGuelphHist on the history and societal implications of the coffee rust pathogen
Here's what I'm learning!
The fungal pathogen Hemileia vastatrix was first identified in British Ceylon in 1869, and spread throughout the Indian Ocean Basin
Collapsed cultivation of arabica coffee throughout Asia, then Africa.
A "Bordeaux Mixture" - developed to protect grape plants in France against fungal pathogens - was used to attempt the control the outbreaks
A "Bordeaux Mixture" - developed to protect grape plants in France against fungal pathogens - was used to attempt the control the outbreaks
Robusta coffee was found to be rust resistant but wasn't super tasty 
Was bred to be less awful tasting, but still not awesome
Is now what is used in instant coffee! (about 40% of the world's current coffee production!)
Was bred to be less awful tasting, but still not awesome
Is now what is used in instant coffee! (about 40% of the world's current coffee production!)
By 1950s only Latin American arabica coffee is free from rust
Huge concern to protect Latin American coffee for many reasons, including concern that coffee farmers would become impoverished and further promote to spread of Communism there
By 1970s the rust has reached Brazil
Huge concern to protect Latin American coffee for many reasons, including concern that coffee farmers would become impoverished and further promote to spread of Communism there
By 1970s the rust has reached Brazil
Spreads throughout Americas reaching Costa Rica by 1980s
Attempts are made to change the environment to keep plants safe (reduce shade), and using chemical fertilizers and fungicides increases
Attempts are made to change the environment to keep plants safe (reduce shade), and using chemical fertilizers and fungicides increases
Rust never caused the same level of devastation to arabica coffee in Latin America compared to the rest of the world. Still exists, but is managed.
Why? Altitude, traditional farming techniques, increased technification of farming
Why? Altitude, traditional farming techniques, increased technification of farming
By 1990s cost of coffee has fallen below the price of production!
Since coffee rust was less of an issue at this time, farmers decided to stop using the expensive fungicides etc
New outbreaks pop up in Latin America again in 2000s - global warming also has a big role in this
Since coffee rust was less of an issue at this time, farmers decided to stop using the expensive fungicides etc
New outbreaks pop up in Latin America again in 2000s - global warming also has a big role in this
Corporations like Starbucks have started supporting research and technologies to support coffee growers
Researchers have been working to bread new rust-resistant strains of arabica
Researchers have been working to bread new rust-resistant strains of arabica
The LAST rust-free coffee rowing region of the world was Hawaii...
...Until about 2 weeks ago, when the rust was detected for the first time
...Until about 2 weeks ago, when the rust was detected for the first time
Will we still have coffee in our lives??
Lots of new breeding is going on, trying to incorporate Robusta resistance into Arabica plants, and other techniques. Reasons for optimism.
So hold your coffee mug tight today!
Lots of new breeding is going on, trying to incorporate Robusta resistance into Arabica plants, and other techniques. Reasons for optimism.
So hold your coffee mug tight today!
Thanks @stuartmccook! The whole story in his book: https://www.amazon.ca/Coffee-Not-Forever-Global-History/dp/0821423878
