Plant Health Australia (PHA) is partnering in a new five-year Australian Coffee Research Program, funded by AgriFutures Australia and led by Southern Cross University.

The program brings together Southern Cross University, PHA, the University of Queensland and the Australian Grown Coffee Association to support research, extension and biosecurity activities for Australia’s coffee sector.

Australia currently imports around 99 per cent of the coffee it consumes, with approximately half of those imports arriving as unroasted beans. While Australia remains free from many of the world’s major coffee pests and diseases, including coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei) and coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix), imported coffee can present potential pathways for exotic pests and pathogens that could limit the industry’s continued growth.

PHA is leading the program’s biosecurity component, which will focus on increasing industry understanding of established and exotic coffee pests and diseases and supporting preparedness across the sector.

As part of the project, PHA will develop a new Biosecurity Plan and an on-farm Biosecurity Manual for the Australian coffee industry, alongside supporting fact sheets and extension resources. PHA will also engage directly with growers through industry events, activities and field days.

The Australian Coffee Research Program is scheduled to run for five years and will deliver research, practical resources and industry engagement activities to support the future of Australia’s coffee industry.