Knowledge to improve food security
May 22, 2013 Leave a comment
Low returns due to flood and drought are affecting rice growers © Steve Evans (CC BY licence)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including farmers abandoning rice crops due to poor returns, crops in Bangladesh destroyed by a cyclone and trading conflict for coffee in Democratic Republic of Congo.
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May 15, 2013 Leave a comment
Gall caused by Pemphigus bursarius © Gyorgy Csoka, Hungary Forest Research Institute, Bugwood.org (CC BY licence)
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 recent multiple introductions of the gall-forming aphid Pemphigus bursarius into Japanese islands, the distribution and characterization of Streptomyces species causing potato common scab in Germany and the first report of Endoclita signifer as a new pest on Eucalyptus.
May 8, 2013 Leave a comment
The banana industry is planning an information system to reduce crop loss
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the risk of Septoria attack if sprays are delayed, an internet data portal plan from the banana industry and new plant protein discoveries that could ease global food and fuel demands.
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May 1, 2013 Leave a comment
Symptoms of septoria leaf spot
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 the occurrence of Pachycoris torridus jewel bugs in Bahia, Brazil, the assessment of wheat cultivars for resistance to septoria leaf blotch-causing isolates and the incidence and identification of Cassava tuber rot caused by Phytophthora palmivora.
April 26, 2013 1 Comment
Farmers in Malawi are realising the benefits of acroecology © CIMMYT (CC BY-NC-SA licence)
This week, the UK Minister of State for Agriculture and Food, David Heath, has announced his support for the use of agroecological farming methods which are seen as the foundation of sustainable agriculture. The International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge, Science and Technology (IAASTD) define agroecology as “the science and practice of applying ecological concepts and principles to the study, design and management of sustainable agroecosystems”. In practice, this means simulating natural ecosystems and using low inputs to increase productivity.
In 2011 the UN reported that by using agroecological methods, projects carried out in 20 different African countries were able to double crop yields in 3-10 years. The projects also recorded a reduction in the use of pesticides, leading to savings for the farmers. The agroecological approach has multiple benefits, beyond these economic gains. It also takes into account social and environmental issues, including soil fertility, water availability and climate change. Read more of this post
April 24, 2013 Leave a comment
A honeybee pollinating a peach flower © Fir0002/Flagstaffotos (CC By-NC)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the multiple pressures that threaten pollinating insects, microwave technology to prevent pest diffusion and the UN to use the plant gene pool to improve agriculture.
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April 17, 2013 Leave a comment
Effect of Meloidogyne spp. on common bean roots © CABI
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 the first report of the root knot nematode, Meloidogyne inornata, on common bean in Brazil’s Paraná State, Glyphosate-resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) on rice paddy levees in Japan and the first report of Fusarium proliferatum causing garlic bulb rots in Mexico.
April 10, 2013 Leave a comment
Xanthomonas wilt causes rotting and bacteria-laden exudates © Guy Blomme/ Bioversity International (CC BY-NC-ND)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including measures taken against Banana Xanthomonas Wilt in Tanzania, new citrus varieties released in Brazil and GM cotton linked to rise in aphid numbers.
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April 3, 2013 Leave a comment
Bactrocera invadens on a mango © IITA (CC BY-NC licence)
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 the detection of Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) in selected Allium species in Austria, attack of two new spider mites on sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) in Brazil and the effects of phytosanitary hot water treatments on West African mangoes infested with Bactrocera invadens.
March 28, 2013 1 Comment
Wheat is susceptible to the effects of climate change © CIMMYT (CC BY-NC-SA licence)
Farmers in India are helping in to fight the effects of climate change by lending their data collection skills for research into wheat. Biodiversity International is working with partners such as the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) and the IFFCO Foundation as part of an initiative called Seeds4Needs. This initiative aims to identify the crop varieties that are likely to perform best under future climatic conditions, via a number of different projects. One such project is currently being run in Vaishali, in India’s Bihar state. Seeds4Needs are using a method called ‘crowdsourcing’ to collect vital data on crop varieties, while farmers benefit by gaining access to more crop varieties. These farmers have been dubbed “citizen scientists” to reflect the time, effort and expertise they contribute to the project. As part of the work, each farmer is provided with seeds from 3 of the 10 wheat varieties being tested. The farmer grows all 3 varieties, then ranks them on characteristics such as yield and quality of grain.
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