Tuta absoluta: combating the tomato leafminer [Video]
A recent IPM workshop in Ethiopia focussed on the tomato leafminer – a pest that causes devastation on tomato crops in Europe, Africa and South America. This video shows how the workshop attendees dedicated their time to finding out more about the pest, seeing it in the field, and working on recommendations for control. To…
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (22 Jan 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 leaf blight of mint caused by the fungus Helminthosporium spiciferum, the first occurrence of fire blight on apricots in Hungary and the first report of Tomato rugose…
The Rotterdam Convention: safeguarding human and environmental health from hazardous chemicals and pesticides
Contributed by Melanie Bateman CABI, Switzerland This year marks the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Rotterdam Convention, which aims to: Promote shared responsibility and cooperative efforts among Parties in the international trade of certain hazardous chemicals in order to protect human health and the environment from potential harm; Contribute to the environmentally sound use…
Update: Plant Health News (16 Jan 14)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the role of radio and mobile phones in boosting crop yields in Namibia, the discovery of ants protecting Acacia trees from pathogens and different approaches to controlling the emerald ash borer in the US. Click on the link to read more of…
Horizon Scanning for Invasive Species
This article from the CABI Invasives Blog highlights the importance of looking to the future when determining the threat of pests to a country.
Update: New Pest & Disease Records (13 Jan 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 migration of rice planthoppers and their vectored rice viruses in East Asia, Alternaria alternata as a new foliar fungal pathogen of tea in Southern India and the first report of downy mildew…
2014: The International Year of Family Farming
Plantwise welcomes a new year with a renewed focus: ‘The International Year of Family Farming’ has begun. The UN General Assembly declared 2014 as the official year to draw attention to policy and practices which support livelihoods of smallholder farmers worldwide. That means this year is dedicated to the 2 billion+ people who depend on…
UK Needs Increase In Agriculture Graduates To Tackle Global Food Security
Increasing the production of food in an environmentally sustainable way is a major global issue. A report produced by the UK Cabinet Office in 2008 predicted that the global population will rise to 9 billion by 2050 from a current 6.8 billion. This increase in population will substantially increase demand for food, with food production…
Bread from the ‘Tree of Life’
Breadfruit has been coined the new ‘super-fruit’ and according to some has the ability to alleviate world hunger. However, it has recently been discovered that breadfruit may also have a very different role in saving lives. Scientists have isolated three chemicals produced in the male inflorescence of the breadfruit that are extremely effective at repelling…
Update: Plant Health News (18 Dec 13)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the use of technology to improve the detection of papaya viruses, toxins discovered in banana root tissue kill root pests and the vital importance of water conservation in Nigeria to avoid food crises. Click on the links to read more of the…