Integrated Disease Management for the Sustainable Production of Colombian Coffee Integrated Disease Management for the Sustainable Production of Colombian Coffee

settingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessReview Integrated Disease Management for the Sustainable Production of Colombian Coffee by Rosa Lilia FerruchoORCID,Gustavo Adolfo Marín-RamírezORCID andAlvaro Gaitan * Department of Plant Pathology, National Coffee Research Center, Cenicafé, Manizales 170009, Colombia * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed. Agronomy 2024, 14(6), 1286; https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy14061286 Submission received: 19 April 2024 / Revised: 26 May 2024 / Accepted: 30 May 2024 / Published: 14 June 2024 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Strategies for the Control of Crop Diseases and Pests to Reduce Pesticides) Downloadkeyboard_arrow_down Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract Coffee stands as a vital pillar of Colombia’s economic prosperity, constituting approximately 7% of the nation’s agricultural GDP. Moreover, it serves as a significant contributor to national agricultural employment, with direct jobs stemming from coffee cultivation comprising 26% of the total agricultural workforce. This underscores the pivotal role coffee plays in shaping Colombia’s social and economic landscape, solidifying its position as the primary origin of mildly washed coffees for global consumers. However, Colombia’s coffee production grapples with the challenge of operating amidst persistently rainy conditions, fostering an environment conducive to fungal diseases. This, compounded by environmental, economic, commercial, and safety constraints for disease control, creates a multifaceted scenario that continuously tests disease management strategies. Addressing this complex dynamic demands a crop protection framework that seamlessly integrates efficient and sustainable methodologies. Such methodologies should prioritize outbreak prevention, cost-effectiveness, adherence to national and international regulations, and the preservation of environmental and human health. Integrated disease management emerges as a solution capable of optimizing productivity tailored to the unique conditions of each plot. By mitigating the impact of pathogens while responsibly utilizing and conserving natural resources, this approach safeguards the well-being of both producers and consumers alike.