Coffee aficionados worldwide have reason to celebrate! A groundbreaking study by researchers at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, in collaboration with international partners, has cracked the code on the Coffee Berry Borer (CBB), a tiny beetle with a devastating impact on coffee crops. This research paves the way for sustainable solutions to protect coffee production, benefitting both farmers and the environment.

Jamaica's world-renowned Blue Mountain Coffee is a critical source of national pride and economic revenue. Since the arrival of CBB from Africa in 1978, however, coffee yields and quality have been under threat. The research delves into the beetle's genetic makeup, aiming to understand its survival mechanisms and how it is able to thrive, ultimately paving the way for better control methods to safeguard the livelihoods of coffee growers.

A Global Threat, a Local Solution: The CBB is a menace worldwide, burrowing into coffee berries and destroying both yield and quality. Globally, losses exceed 450 million Euros annually, a significant dent in a 65 billion Euro coffee industry.  Existing control methods to combat the beetle are environmentally harmful, ineffective, expensive, or require a significant amount of effort to collect and dispose of infested berries hence the need for a more integrated pest management approach.

A collaborative team of researchers from the University of Regensburg, the University of Münster, and The University of the West Indies has conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis of the Coffee Berry Borer (CBB). By resequencing the CBB genome and comparing DNA samples from diverse Jamaican farms, the study revealed a striking pattern: low genetic diversity, indicative of a recent population bottleneck.  Additionally, the analysis uncovered a significant increase in the activity of transposable elements within CBB populations.

By studying the genetic diversity of CBB populations across Jamaica, researchers can predict behavioural patterns and identify susceptibilities to various control measures. This knowledge is essential for designing targeted, site-specific pest management strategies to minimize economic losses while protecting the environment," explains Dr. Dwight Robinson, co-author and Senior Lecturer in the faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI Mona. By understanding the beetle's genetic makeup, researchers can predict its behaviour and identify weaknesses for targeted control measures. Such measures can significantly reduce reliance on harmful pesticides, protecting both the environment and the livelihoods of coffee farmers.

Published in Genome Biology and Evolution, the study reveals a surprising finding: the Jamaican CBB population exhibits low genetic diversity, suggesting a past "genetic bottleneck.” Despite this, the beetle possesses unique genetic features that enable it to thrive.

"This is exactly the type of fundamental research which is essential for bringing about novel and transformative solutions to the real problems plaguing Jamaica’s agricultural industry. The future potential for using these results is enormous, particularly in safeguarding critical livelihoods in developing countries like ours,” emphasizes Prof. Michael Taylor, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology at The UWI Mona. This groundbreaking research not only advances the fight against the Coffee Berry Borer but also underscores the transformative potential of science and collaboration in safeguarding the future of coffee farming globally.

Citation: Errbii, Mohammed, Myrie, Ameka, Robinson, Dwight, Schultner, Eva, Schrader, Lukas, Oettler, Jan. (2024) Genetic Variation in Jamaican Populations of the Coffee Berry Borer, Hypothenemus hampei. Genome Biology and Evolution. Volume 16 (11) https://doi.org/10.1093/gbe/evae217

Photo caption:  Dr. Dwight Robinson, Senior Lecturer/Entomologist/Pest Ecologist, Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, The University of the West Indies, Mona.