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Who the report targeted at
The report is targeted at growers, regulators and any other parties interested in the production of coffee in Australia.

Background
Coffee growing is a small but viable industry in Australia comprising 30 growers in Queensland (700 ha), and 170 growers in NSW producing 500 ha of crop. The current crop is thus 1220 ha and is projected to grow substantially. Approximately 50% of total production is exported, and growers actively promote their product overseas. Australian coffee enjoys a reputation for being “clean and green” and for being of very high quality.

To date, the industry has relied on obtaining APVMA (Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority) permits for the use of various pesticides to control insects, weeds and fungal diseases. On commencing this project, all permits for pesticide use in coffee had expired, and there were no pesticides fully registered or permitted for use in this crop. Furthermore, many of the previously permitted insecticides were of the broad spectrum organophosphate type, and were not suited for use in modern integrated pest management systems.

There was thus a need to urgently pursue pesticide registration for key insecticides, herbicides and fungicides to enable coffee growers to manage pest situations in a legal and environmentally responsible manner.

Aims and objectives
The objectives of this research was to generate data to support the registration and/or ongoing permit use for a range of pesticides for use by coffee growers with an emphasis on the development of modern products suitable for inclusion in integrated pest management systems.

Methods used
The methodology adopted to achieve the aims of this project was to firstly identify those pesticides that were suitable for use in coffee, and to obtain advice from the APVMA regarding the precise data requirements necessary to support registration and/or ongoing permit use for each of these. Where pesticides were currently registered for use on other crops, and whose properties were well known, limited data was required. Usually, scientific argument for efficacy and crop safety, together with grower testimonials of safe and successful use under permit over two seasons or more, was sufficient to enable future renewal of such permits. This information was gathered and provided to the APVMA.

For newer chemistry pesticides, replicated trial work was necessary to prove efficacy and crop safety and these trials were conducted during the course of the project. In addition, detailed residue trials were conducted under GLP (good laboratory practice) protocols to determine maximum residue limits (MRLs) in consumable produce. This data was provided to the relevant chemical companies for inclusion in their registration submissions to the APVMA.

The Australian Coffee Growers Association was informed regarding the outcomes of this project.

Results
As a result of this work, a number of permits allowing the use of various pesticides in coffee were reissued, and data to support the registration and/or further renewal of permits were submitted to the APVMA and to chemical companies.

At the conclusion of the project, and as a result of the work conducted, most of the pesticides for which use in coffee was sought were either currently permitted for use in the crop or were under consideration for inclusion as registered pesticides on labels to be finalised in 2007. The current status for each of the pesticides considered in the project is summarised below:

1. Insecticides
a) Success 120 SC (120 g/L spinosad) - Now fully registered for the control of avocado leaf roller in coffee.
b) Admiral 100 EC (100 g/L pyriproxyfen) - Efficacy and residue data to support the use of this product to control scale insects in coffee was provided to Sumitomo Chemical Australia Pty Ltd. That organisation has subsequently included the data in a submission to the APVMA with the view to gaining full registration of this product for use in coffee in 2007.
c) Prodigy 240 SC (240 g/L methoxyfenozide) - Efficacy and residue data to support the use of this product to control avocado leaf roller in coffee was provided to Dow AgroSciences. That organisation has included this data in a submission to the APVMA with the view to gaining full registration of this product for the use in coffee in 2007.
d) Applaud 440 SC (440 g/L buprofezin) - Efficacy and residue data to support the use of this product to control mealy bug in coffee was provided to Dow AgroSciences. At this stage Dow AgroSciences do not intend to apply for registration of this product to be included on their label for use in coffee.

This is because they only recently updated the Applaud label, and the data provided was too late for inclusion in the previous submission. Despite this, they have indicated that it will be included when they next update their label. In the interim period we have submitted a permit application for Applaud in coffee and this is under consideration by the APVMA.

e) Lorsban 500 EC (500 g/L Chlorpyrifos) - Permit No 8387 allowing the use of Chlorpyrifos for the control of green coffee scale at a rate of 100 mL/100L was obtained during the course of this project, and is valid until 30/9/2009. Efficacy, crop safety data, grower testimonials and scientific argument have been submitted to APVMA to support continued permit use for the control of scale insects and mealy bug with this product in coffee.

 f) D-C-Tron Plus petroleum oil - Permit No 7314 allowing the use of Ampol D-C-Tron Plus for the control of green coffee scale at a rate of 1.25 L/100L was obtained during the course of this project and is valid until 31/12/2010. Efficacy, crop safety data, grower testimonials and scientific argument has been submitted to APVMA to support continued permit use for the control of scale insects and mealy bug with this product in coffee

g) Mimic 700 WP (700 g/kg tebufenozide) - Permit No 7313 allowing the use of Mimic for the control of avocado leaf roller at a rate of 86 g/1000L was obtained during the course of this project, and is valid until 31/12/2007. As this product will be replaced by Prodigy, no further permit renewal will be required.

 h) Supracide 400 EC (400 g/L methidathion) - Permit No 7312 allowing the use of Supracide for the control of green coffee scale and mealy bug at a rate of 125 mL/100L was obtained during the course of this project, and is valid until 31/12/2007. As this product is under review by the APVMA and may be deregistered for use in any crop at a later date, no further permit renewal will be required.

2. Herbicides

a) Glyphosate - Permit No 7315 allowing the use of Glyphosate 360 for the control of annual and perennial weeds at a rate of 1.0 - 1.5 L/ha was obtained during the course of this project and is valid until 6/12/2007. Grower testimonials and scientific argument have been submitted to APVMA to support continued permit use of glyphosate in coffee.

b) Basta - Permit No 7316 allowing the use of Basta for the control of broadleaf and grass weeds at a rate of 2.0 - 4.0 L/ha was obtained during the course of this project and is valid until 6/12/2007.

Grower testimonials and scientific argument has been submitted to APVMA to support continued permit use of Basta in coffee.

c) Stomp (pendimethalin) - Permit No 8388 allowing the use of pendimethalin as a pre emergent herbicide in seedling coffee at a rate of 2.0 - 3.0 L/ha was obtained during the course of this project and is valid until 28/11/2010. Grower testimonials and scientific argument has been submitted to APVMA to support continued permit use of pendimethalin in coffee.

3. Fungicides

Copper - Permit No 7322 allowing the use of copper containing fungicides was obtained during the course of this project and is valid until 16/12/2010. Grower testimonials and scientific argument have been submitted to APVMA to support continued permit use of copper fungicides in coffee.

As a result of work conducted under this project, coffee growers now have access to a range of registered or permitted pesticides for use in this crop. Growers are now able to better manage coffee crops using selected pesticides (including insecticides, herbicides and fungicides) chosen for their suitability for use within integrated pest management systems. This should encourage the trend toward integrated pest management and enhance the industries sustainability and environmentally responsible image.

Implications
For growers this project will be of great benefit in removing the confusion about which pesticides may or may not be used in their production systems. In addition, the products selected will enable growers to use modern pesticides more suited to integrated pest management systems and which are less hazardous to both users and the environment.

The use of safer pesticides will benefit the community in general and will enhance the image of the coffee growing industry.

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