Update: New Pest & Disease Records (07 September 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 record of the northern spruce bark beetle Ips duplicatus in Slovenia and information about five new introduced terrestrial slugs in Hungary.
Ukulima True – a Kenyan farming campaign to help reduce the risk of pesticides
As demand for food grows globally, farming practices must intensify. Farmers will need to use more low-risk tools to tackle plant pests and diseases. Pesticides are an important tool for pest management. However, they should be seen as part of a kit of many tools, not the only tool. This is because pesticides also pose…
What are bioprotection products, and how do they work?
Bioprotection products are nature-based solutions to managing crop pests and diseases. More and more growers are turning to environmentally sustainable crop pest and disease management solutions, such as bioprotection products. Reasons for choosing more sustainable solutions include pest and disease resistance to chemical pesticides and concerns for human health and the environment.
New bioprotection course paves the way for a more sustainable agricultural landscape
CABI Academy‘s latest course, Introduction to Bioprotection Products, enables agricultural service providers to equip themselves with the knowledge and skills to support smallholder farmers using bioprotection products. Bioprotection, also known as biocontrol, is a more sustainable approach to pest management. Unlike conventional chemical pesticides, bioprotection products are derived from natural sources, making them a safer…
Spotlight: The team behind the PlantwisePlus Digital Tools
PlantwisePlus Digital Tools: The PlantwisePlus programme is working to increase access to digital decision support tools and information. These can support farmers and extension workers to make more informed decisions in crop health management. The delivery of these advisory tools across the programme’s member countries is improving the capacity of public and private stakeholders to…
Plant health knowledge helps residents of wildlife conservancy turn from poaching to farming
Simalaha Community Conservancy aims to protect endangered wildlife. However, several years ago, it faced a big challenge. People living within the parks’ boundaries were poaching animals for food and income. The Conservancy is managed by Peace Parks Foundation. They addressed the problem by helping residents to shift from poaching to smallholder farming. But in 2020,…