Page 26 - APPD_Something's_Brewing_May_June'24(5Jun24)

Sustainability

This only reduces photosynthesis Cafeology
Growing coffee
slightly reducing the quality of the
coffee end product. Worst case,
photosynthesis is hampered so
drastically that the coffee tree can no
longer make food for itself and dies
(and so too does every nearby tree until
the entire plantation is dead).

There are rust-resistant varieties, and
also many in research stages, but they
are typically lesser quality or Robusta.
Therefore, rust-resistant varieties

struggle to meet the flavour profiles
that consumers expect. Fungicides are
used on the farm and help reduce rust
but fungicides are costly and also kill
off the good fungi in the soil.

Roberto finds that a nutrient-rich tree
is the best defense because, like a
healthier person more easily fighting
off a cold, the tree is healthier and thus
more resistant to infection and can
fight it easier.

Pickers finish for the day and
return to the farm

Banana tree shade also helps create
good airflow that dries the trees
more easily lowering the humidity (a
natural fungal control – fungi like MAY/JUNE. 2024 | ISSUE 36
moisture). So, nutrient-rich trees are
a good defense for rust but,
conversely, super-productive trees
A leaf recovering from a rust attack are more susceptible to rust.

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