Benefits of the PlantwisePlus digital tools presented in Nepal
CABI introduced the benefits of the PlantwisePlus digital tools and CABI Digital Library during a symposium in Nepal this April. Titled, “CABI Digital Library- A Suite of Tools for Plant Health System”, the event presented the tools and how they can help strengthen plant health systems.
Why plant health matters
Why is plant health so important? Plants account for 80% of what we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe. They are essential for food security and a healthy world. Better plant health could help end hunger, alleviate poverty, protect biodiversity, and boost economic development. Yet, our planet’s plant health is under threat.
New Pest Management Decision Guides created in collaboration with the Rainforest Alliance
PlantwisePlus and the Rainforest Alliance have collaborated on a collection of Pest Management Decision Guides (PMDGs) for Nicaragua. The PMDGs are available on the PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank. They provide agricultural advisors and farmers with crop and pest-specific prevention, monitoring and control advice. They enable producers to make informed crop management decisions, minimising the reliance on…
China’s plant doctors of tomorrow trained by CABI at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University
China’s plant doctors of tomorrow have been trained by CABI at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU) in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province as part of its overall mission to help the country reduce crop losses from pests and diseases.
Integrated rodent management: rice production
Rodents are a particularly challenging pest in the rice production industry as they are a problem all the way from sowing to harvest. The rice field rat (Rattus argentiventer) causes average losses of 10-20% in rice growing areas. Ranking as the most important non-weed pest in Indonesia for 15 years up until 2000. Integrated Pest…
Helping to ensure greater food security through the eyes of a young farmer and plant doctor
Dr Dennis Rangi, CABI’s Director General, Development based at its regional centre for Africa in Nairobi, Kenya, wrote a thought leadership article as part of International Youth Day. He said that a ‘revolution’ in agribusiness involving Africa’s youth is required so they can capitalise on the sector’s contribution to around 25% of the continent’s Gross…
Training workshop focuses on rearing of stem boring weevil to fight noxious parthenium weed in Pakistan
Parthenium hysterophorus is a highly destructive weed that has crossed continents, and is spreading rapidly in both rural and urban landscapes across Pakistan. A variety of methodologies have been used to control its spread but no single management option is adequate to manage parthenium. Therefore, there is a need to integrate various management options. Successful…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (20 April 2023)
We’ve selected a few of the latest new geographic, host and species records for plant pests and diseases from CAB Abstracts. Records this month include the first report of root rot on onion seedlings caused by Globisporangium irregulare in South Korea, and the first report of Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus infecting muskmelon (Cucumis melo) in…
Making production standards work for Kenya’s growers
Expanding Kenya’s horticultural produce markets by making production standards work for the country’s producers At the end of March, CABI participated in the GLOBAL G.A.P Tour held in Nairobi. The event sought to strengthen compliance and expand markets for Kenya’s agricultural produce. Convened by Rootooba, the tour raised awareness on updated global food safety standards.
CABI Academy helps Better Cotton team grow its plant-health knowledge
Members of the CABI Better Cotton Initiative team gave their crop pest diagnosis and management skills a boost recently thanks to the CABI Academy. Over 100 team members completed the Crop Pest Diagnosis and Crop Pest Management courses with all participants gaining a pass certificate.