State researchers are seeking to develop a detection system that would help identify the country’s coffee varieties that are susceptible and resistant to pests and diseases.

The project, titled “Development of a Detection System for Pest and Disease Resistance in Philippine Coffee Varieties,” is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).

The project leader is Dr. Ernelea P. Cao of the Institute of Biology, University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD).

“The detection system will use molecular markers to enable early resistance screening of local coffee varieties,” the DOST-PCAARRD said in a statement.

The Council said through the project, the distribution and planting of affected coffee plants that may cause more losses to coffee farmers may be avoided.

“Coffee production has been most hampered by the berry borer and coffee leaf rust disease. Given this, a detection system will benefit our coffee growers, farmers, and researchers who can use the kit to identify the susceptible coffee varieties,” Cao said.

She said they sought to strengthen the local coffee industry and help in rehabilitating the coffee farms in Batangas and Cavite that were destroyed by heavy ashfall during the eruption of Taal Volcano last year.

The DOST-PCAARRD held a virtual inception meeting where the objectives, activities, and expected outputs of the project were tackled.

The project team from UPD and key personnel of the Council’s Crops Research Division (CRD) attended the meeting.