The SCAA origin trip this year will be to Brazil from October 21-27, 2012. The origin trip is designed to build an understanding of the technical, agronomic and scientific techniques utilized at origin to advance specialty coffee. SCAA coffee science manager Emma Bladyka will lead the trip. Visits will include lab and university settings as well as farms of varying sizes. All farm visits will be accompanied by local technical advisors or agronomists and discussion of specific scientific strategies being used to improve quality and value. This will include farms who are conducting their own research as well as institutional entities. Topic that may be covered include selection and breeding, varietal development, botany, grafting, disease prevention, pruning, fertilization and soil fertility maintenance, plant physiology, shade management, harvesting, fermentation and other processing techniques, drying and storing specialty coffee. Registration closes October 5, 2012. Visit www.scaa.org to register.

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