Coffee Rust in Colombia: Why Do We Continue to Produce Coffee for the World? La Roya del Café en Colombia: ¿por qué seguimos produciendo café para el mundo?

Coffee rust, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is the most destructive coffee disease globally. Historically, it has caused epidemics that have led to the abandonment of coffee cultivation in other parts of the world. In Colombia, the disease is present in all coffee- growing regions and can reduce production by 10% to 30% in susceptible varieties if not managed properly. The most effective strategy for managing the disease has been the development of coffee varieties with genetic resistance. However, the fungus can adapt and overcome plant defenses, jeopardizing the durability of this resistance due to pathogen variability. This variability of H. vastatrix has required a continuous update of the genetic components of the varieties developed by Cenicafé as resistance decreases in the field.

The National Federation of Coffee Growers (FNC) and Cenicafé maintain constant monitoring of the disease and conduct pathogen characterization, which allows for timely responses to new variants. The characterization of H. vastatrix is performed on a germplasm bank with genotypes exhibiting various resistance responses to the fungus. Between 1983 and 2023, 20 pathogen races have been identified in Colombia, with variability in their frequency and aggressiveness. Race II, in particular, has been predominant since its arrival in 1983. The pathogen´s ability to adapt and cause damage continues to evolve, leading to the emergence of new races and variants and underscoring the importance of constant monitoring and continuous updates to resistance strategies. Each morning, as we enjoy our first coffee, let us remember that in our country, more than 5 million people derive dignity and income from coffee, one of the most traded agricultural products in the world, now once again at risk in many production areas. The different components of the integrated disease management strategy help reduce its impact on production. This time, history will not repeat itself!