Alien pests are a major threat to the future of diversified agriculture in Hawai`i. The agricultural industry is Hawai`i's third largest revenue source, grossing nearly $1 billion per year. Pests already established in Hawai`i are responsible for large losses in damaged agricultural crops and lost markets. New pests are a constant threat. With the downsizing of sugar and pineapple, these new pests are a major threat to the future of diversified agriculture in Hawai`i.
Since fruit flies have made their way to Hawai`i, restrictions have been placed on the export of papaya, mango and other produce to fruit fly-free markets like California and Japan. The agriculture industry values these lost potential markets at $300 million per year.
The forecast is bleak. Each year, an average of 20 new alien insects make their way to Hawai`i, half of which are known pests. For Hawai`i's farmers it is becoming impossible to cope with the number of new pests. They are being forced to increase pesticide use, change crops or quit farming altogether. |
Alien snails, insects, viruses, and other pests threaten the resurgence of taro (already a $2 million industry statewide) as an agricultural commodity and the staple of the traditional Hawaiian diet. The taro root aphid causes 90% crop loss in dryland taro. The only treatment for taro root aphid is removal of all taro from the infested field for at least one year. 
The papaya ringspot virus weakens the papaya tree and ruins the fruit. The virus could bring an end to large scale papaya production on the island of Hawai`i, valued at $16 million annually and employing 1,200 farmers. The fall of papaya, the fifth largest commodity in the state, could mean a $50 million loss to the state's economy.
Overall, many of Hawai`i's most promising crops are struggling under a siege of alien pests. Anthurium growers battle bacterial blight which has caused a 40% decline in statewide production since 1980. Several ginger root farmers have suffered 60-70% crop loss due to bacterial wilt that first appeared in 1991. An alien aphid on Maui is causing crop losses of 20-90% in affected cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower crops.