Nanotechnology for Coffee Plant Disease Management: A Sustainable Path to Protecting Coffee Crops
(Room 26 AB)
10 Apr 26
9:00 AM
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9:45 AM
Coffee faces one of its greatest challenges in the management of fungal pathogens — particularly Hemileia vastatrix, the causal agent of coffee leaf rust. In recent years, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising frontier for sustainable crop protection. This session will explore how engineered nanomaterials — specifically silica-based nanoparticles functionalized with chitosan oligomers and copper ions — can activate defense pathways in coffee plants, enhance horizontal resistance, and potentially reduce the need for conventional agrochemicals.
Drawing from ongoing research and greenhouse trials with Coffea arabica varieties, we will discuss mechanisms of action, results from plant defense gene expression studies, and leaf disc infection assays evaluating disease progression. Participants will gain a clear understanding of the opportunities and limitations of applying nanotechnology in coffee agriculture, including scalability, safety, regulatory considerations, and practical adoption for smallholder farmers.
This presentation aims to bridge cutting-edge plant science and field application. It is designed for coffee producers, agronomists, sustainability leaders, and anyone interested in innovative, environmentally conscious solutions for the future of coffee farming.