Welcome to SPCL

Sustainable Perennial Crops Laboratory 

Our mission is to improve production of tropical crops such as cacao and coffee in using sustainable systems.  Our goal is to provide farmers with scientifically-based methods that will increase production, while guarding the safety and quality of the products.  These crops have significant impact on national and global economies and the environment.  Our research will benefit the USA through market stability and increased demand for USA-grown agricultural commodities such as milk, sugar, peanuts and other crops that are integral to processing and use of these commodities.

These crops have a significant impact on national and global economies and the environment. Specific goals include: 1) the evaluation of new biological control organisms for control of frosty pod rot and witches' broom diseases of cacao; 2) development and evaluation of better management practices to improve sustainable cacao production; 3) rationalization and evaluation of cacao germplasm in genebank collections to improve the utilization and efficiency of cacao breeding programs; and 4) evaluation of new biological control organisms and application mechanisms to control coffee berry borer pests. Our ultimate goal is to provide producers with scientifically-based, sustainable methods that increase production while securing the quality and safety of these commodities to USA markets. These goals will ultimately benefit the USA through market stability and increased demand for USA grown agricultural commodities and by ensuring a safe and stable food supply for all consumers.

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