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)…
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…
IPPC: Why is pest risk analysis important? [Video]
Experts in pest risk analysis from around the world give their views on why risk analysis is important for trade and protection of domestic agriculture. Video from the IPPC.
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.
Pests of the forest are spreading
Much is covered in the news about deforestation by humans, but less is widely known about the damage done to forests by pests and diseases. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) produces an assessment of the world’s forest resources every five years. Their last report highlighted the effect that climate change will have on forests…