This project will develop a Manual of current best practices for growing, harvesting and processing coffee grown in Australia. The Manual is aimed at providing new or potential coffee growers as well as existing growers with up-to-date information. The scope of the Manual will cover:

• An introductory chapter “Is Coffee Growing for You” with some basic financial and horticultural facts and figures that will help potential new growers decide whether to go the next step to becoming a coffee grower.
• The importance of Biosecurity – measures to be taken on farm and by all Australians to keep our Australian coffee growing industry free of the destructive diseases that limit production and are found in other coffee growing regions of the world.
• Understanding your coffee tree -a description of the function of each part of the coffee tree and what influences its development and health.
• A checklist of the conditions that make a site suitable for growing coffee – including the climate, the layout of the land and the soil characteristics. A warming climate is an important factor to bear in mind – new areas further south may become suitable for growing coffee.
• Selecting the right variety of coffee tree for your chosen site.
• A step-by-step guide from planning, through design to laying out the plantation.
• Planting techniques to ensure establishment of a healthy new plantation.
• Information and guidance on sustainable ways of fertilising, water management, control of weeds and pests that affect coffee.
• A description of ways to assess whether the coffee crop is ready to harvest.
• An overview of processing methods to remove the coffee flesh and their impact on the quality of the coffee in the cup.

The Manual will be presented in loose leaf form that will enable sections to be readily updated as needed.