Pesticides-L mailing list: creating a global conversation on pesticides issues

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Written by Melanie Bateman, Integrated Crop Management Adviser, CABI Switzerland As has been mentioned before in this blog, there are a staggering number of chemicals in the world – estimates go as high as 2 million different preparations for sale. This is a lot for regulators in any given country to assess and monitor for…
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Behind the scenes of Plantwise plant clinics in Uganda

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PhD student, Andrew Tock, of the Warwick Crop Centre, has spent three months monitoring Plantwise plant clinic success in Uganda as part of a BBSRC-funded Doctoral Training Partnership. During this time, he kept a research diary (video above), describing his experiences in Uganda and the day-to-day work of plant doctors in the field. To read…
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Update: New Pest & Disease Records (29 Oct 14)

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We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this fortnight include new hosts (turmeric and black pepper) of root knot nematode in Pakistan,  two fungal leaf spot pathogens on Indonesian cinnamon, and a species of phytoplasma not previously found on apple…
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Local refrigeration: Key to reducing #Postharvest losses in Rural areas

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Update: Plant Health News (22 Oct 14)

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Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including a study on the use of predator beetles as biocontrol for the destructive coffee berry borer, a look at the role of Ethiopia’s seedbanks in food security and turning barren land into banana orchards in Bangladesh. Click on the link to read…
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Next week: Join us for Agricultural Communications drinks in London

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Now launching a monthly series of meet-ups in London to bring together cross-sectoral communications professionals interested in issues related to agriculture, food security and nutrition. All those working for non-profits, government institutions, private corporations, start-ups, and academia are welcome. Read news from the recent Global Hunger Index launch and find out more details about this…
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Seeking help for her amaranthus crop in India, Sarathambal finds a local plant clinic

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A Plantwise experience from Tamil Nadu. Writing and reporting by Kavya Dashora, CABI India 50-year-old Sarathambal lives with her husband and son, in Pooncheri village near Iluppakkorai, in Thanjavur district. The family engages in diversified cropping systems in their 2 acre land, to expand the source of subsistence and income, to increase yield, and to…
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The 2014 Global Hunger Index and how Plantwise countries are faring

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The 2014 Global Hunger Index, now available from the International Food Policy Research Institute, Welthungerhilfe, and Concern Worldwide, shows a steady decrease in hunger in most developing countries.
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Update: New Pest & Disease Records (15 Oct 14)

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We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this fortnight include a pathogen that’s causing fruit rot of tomato, orange, and apple in Pakistan, the first report of Phomopsis citri associated with dieback of lemon in India and the  first report…
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Plantwise Data Management Training in Mozambique

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Since its launch early this year, the partnership between the Plantwise Initiative and the Ministry of Agriculture in Mozambique (MINAG) continues to grow. The National Directorate of Agrarian Services (DNSA) that falls under MINAG is the Plantwise implementing institution in Mozambique. There are currently 5 plant clinics established and running in Maputo and Manica provinces.
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