Factsheet of the month: May – Fruit Fly Control
Today, the European Union (EU) has imposed a ban on imports of Alphonso mango from India after authorities in Brussels found fruit flies infesting mango shipments earlier this year. This ban is likely to affect everyone in the supply chain – from growers to wholesalers to consumers. Fruit flies are a major pest of mango…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (30 Apr 14)
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 myrothecium rhizome spot of ginger caused by Myrothecium verrucaria in Japan, the first record of the sugarcane froghoppers Mahanarva spectabilis and Mahanarva liturata infesting sugarcane plantations in Goianésia (Brazil)…
Making the most of Coconut in Sri Lanka
Coconut is well known for its flavour, nutritional benefits and source of versatile materials, prompting it to be known in Sanskrit as kalpavriksha, meaning “the tree which provides all the necessities of life”. Sri Lanka is the 5th highest producer of coconut in the world, with an FAO-estimated production of 2 million tonnes in 2012.…
Update: Plant Health News (23 Apr 14)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the postharvest pathology of beans, a reduction in the proportion of shade grown coffee and the filamentous fungus that may be effective at controlling sugarcane nematodes. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (16 Apr 14)
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 Fomitiporia maxonii causing citrus wood rot in commercial orange and grapefruit groves in Cuba, the first report of Daldinia concentrica on Ficus benjamia from India, and Monilinia species identified…
Update: Plant Health News (09 Apr 14)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the banana plants that can fight off nematodes, the effect of pesticides on earthworms and training for farmers in Gambia on rice crop husbandry. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Factsheet of the month: April – Wheat stem rust
Last week, the Borlaug Summit on Wheat for Food Security took place in Mexico, bringing together thought leaders, policymakers, and leading agricultural research-for-development organizations to discuss the role of wheat in the future of food security. Wheat is an extremely important crop that provides around 20% of the world’s calories but this staple crop is threatened…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (02 Apr 14)
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 records of plant parasitic nematodes on cassava cultivated in the Brazilian Amazon, the first record of dragon fruit anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum truncatum in China and a new threat to potato…
2013 Global Food Policy Report: Nutrition in the spotlight
Last month, the International Food Policy Research Institute released its 2013 Global Food Policy Report. This report is the third annual report in this series which aims to give an overview of the food policy developments that have affected food security that year. This includes a review of the key highlights of the previous 12…
Update: Plant Health News (26 Mar 14)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including research into the benefits of cover crops, the release of the 2013 Global Food Policy Report and the launch of the Plant Protection Code for India’s tea industry.