One stop shop for information on internationally restricted chemicals
Contributed by Melanie Bateman, CABI Switzerland Together, the three conventions that govern chemicals and hazardous waste safety at the global level (the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions) have launched an online search tool for finding technical and scientific publications to support sound management of chemicals and waste: http://synergies.pops.int/Implementation/Publications/ScientificandTechnicalPublications/tabid/3790/language/en-US/Default.aspx In particular, the member countries of these…
Update: Plant Health News (03 Dec 14)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including farmers in Bangladesh benefiting from early variety potatoes, water-saving technology introduced to rice farms in Vietnam and a model guava farm developed in India using traditional and modern methods. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Factsheet of the month: December – Management of white stem borer of coffee
The white stem borer, also known as Seto Gavaro, is a major pest of coffee in Nepal. In fact, the government and industry hold the pest largely responsible for the drop in production between mid-2012 and mid-2013. Coffee is a major cash crop in Nepal so it is important that farmers do not lose yield to…
Agri-Drinks next week Dec 3rd in London: Join us
A monthly meet-up to bring together all those involved in communications, media and PR focused on food security, nutritional and agricultural issues. Join the facebook group to stay in the loop on upcoming events! Facebook group: http://on.fb.me/1w2upQ3
Giving thanks and lending support for bountiful harvests and good health
Contributed by Melanie Bateman Today, families in the US gather around the table for Thanksgiving, a national holiday to celebrate the harvest and to give thanks in general for all of life’s bounties. The United States is not unique in this custom; many other countries celebrate harvests and mark particular days as occasions for reflection…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (26 Nov 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 first report of Erwinia carotovora causing bacterial pod rot of cocoa in India, a new combination of viruses causing tobacco bushy top disease in Ethiopia and research into yam virus X, a…
Update: Plant Health News (19 Nov 14)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the insect-resistant maize that could increase yields and decrease pesticide use in Mexico, nematodes that are threatening rice in the Ayeyarwady Region of Myanmar and a study into how salt-loving plants could contribute to sustainable global food production. Click on the link to…
EU Evaluation finds Plantwise ‘highly relevant and timely’
“The Plantwise programme is a highly relevant and timely initiative considering the high percentage of crops lost to pest and disease problems, the impact these problems have on especially small farmer livelihoods, and the probability that in the future plant health problems will be enhanced by climate change and globalization.” Download and read the Final…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (13 Nov 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 identification of Tomato yellow leaf curl virus infecting common bean in Japan, Diaspididae scale insects in olive trees in Brazil and the first report of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum‘ on carrot in Africa.
Assessing risks to make informed decisions for safeguarding the health of humans, animals and plants
Contributed by Melanie Bateman, Integrated Crop Management Adviser, CABI Switzerland For the first time since 2000, the World Trade Organisation hosted an international workshop on developments in pest risk analysis (PRA) in October 2014. The previous workshop was held only four years after the signing of the Agreement on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement).…