Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and agriculture face growing threats from invasive species, with about 20 new insects and 100 new plants arriving each year, undermining the islands’ ecological, cultural and economic foundations.
Hawaiʻi’s ecosystems and agriculture face growing threats from invasive species, with about 20 new insects and 100 new plants arriving each year, undermining the islands’ ecological, cultural and economic foundations. However, a new report from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) shows that efforts to use biological control—the introduction of natural enemies to suppress invasive pests—on invasive species are delivering exceptional returns on investment while offering a sustainable, long-term solution for invasive species management.
The UHERO report examined three pests: coffee berry borer (CBB), erythrina gall wasp (EGW) and fireweed. Each threatens a key sector or resource: Hawaiʻi’s premium coffee industry, dryland forests and cultural heritage, and the cattle industry.
Coffee Berry Borer
Hawaiʻi-grown coffee faces major losses from CBB, with current management—frequent fungal sprays—costing farmers up to 12% of profits. Modeling shows that introducing the biocontrol agent Phymastichus coffea could generate $32–142 million in net benefits over 50 years, with breakeven in 1–2 years, even under conservative scenarios. The long-term economic gains far outweigh the upfront investment, offering a sustainable solution for the state’s coffee industry.
Read More: University of Hawaii
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