How farmers in Peru are improving practices through sustainable biological control
In an effort to further promote sustainable agricultural practices in Peru, PlantwisePlus is supporting technicians and farmers to strengthen their capacity to identify and apply biological control agents. This has reduced dependence on chemical pesticides and increased adoption of more sustainable pest management practices.
Watch the video: Trichogramma rearing facilities in Pakistan
In the face of increasing pesticide reliance, biological control offers a less harmful, more sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. Biological control utilizes natural enemies, such as predators, parasitoids, and pathogens, to suppress pest populations. In Pakistan, PlantwisePlus is collaborating with the Pakistani government to rear Trichogramma chilonis, providing farmers with these tiny wasps that control…
In pictures: Tackling Croton scale in Grenada
In Grenada’s lush tropical landscapes, a tiny pest, the Croton scale, is having a massive impact. But thanks to the power of nature and knowledge sharing, change is underway. Through the combined efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, CABI PlantwisePlus, and the Sandals Foundation, the sustainable management of croton is being evaluated as part of…
What are Natural Enemies Field Reservoirs, and how do they help farmers control crop pests?
Classical biological control (CBC) is a widely used type of biological control that is proven to be effective in managing invasive pests. This method involves releasing natural enemies like parasitoids or fungi that can keep pest populations under control. However, additional technology, such as natural enemies field reservoirs – or NEFRs – can improve CBC…
Advancing pest management in Grenada through PlantwisePlus biological control training
In a remarkable effort to enhance agricultural practices, Grenada’s Ministry of Agriculture recently hosted a pivotal training course on biological control organized and co-funded by CABI’s PlantwisePlus programme in collaboration with Sandals Foundation*. The course provided participants with a comprehensive overview of biological control strategies tailored specifically to Grenada’s agricultural context.
Types of biological control: augmentative, conservation and classical
Biological control, also called biocontrol or bioprotection, is a method of pest control using other organisms, natural enemies, pathogens, semiochemicals and natural substances. Unlike some other methods of control in agriculture, bioprotection often has little to no side effects.
Parasitic wasps play pivotal role in Kenya’s papaya mealybug control
Papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) is a devastating papaya pest. It impacts many countries in East and West Africa. Infestations can result in significant economic losses, posing a threat to the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. On average, the pest can cause anywhere from 53% to 100% crop losses, costing £2,224 per hectare annually. Its impact on…
Successful on-farm trials using Metarhizium rileyi in Zambia
The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) has wreaked havoc on Zambia’s agriculture, devastating smallholder farmers with staggering losses. But amidst the struggle, a promising solution emerges. Through activities on the PlantwisePlus programme and the Village-based biocontrol of fall armyworm in Zambia project, funded by ACIAR, CABI has delved into combating this agricultural menace with various biological…
Trichogramma mass rearing facilities piloted in Pakistan
Championing sustainable agriculture by promoting lower-risk plant protection solutions to tackle crop health challenges is a key objective of CABI’s PlantwisePlus programme. In particular, the managing of plant pests and diseases. A cornerstone of this work is setting up local facilities for the mass rearing of lower-risk plant protection solutions.
Kenyan farmer perceptions of biological control of papaya mealybug
The papaya mealybug problem in Kenya The invasive papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) is a devastating pest to many crops, with a host range of over 200 plants. The species was first detected in Africa in 2010 in Ghana and then in 2016 in Mombasa County in Kenya. In Kenya, where horticulture makes up 60% of…