How IPM is helping Vietnam’s tomato farmers manage invasive tomato leafminer
Tomato farmers in Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, are gaining practical knowledge on managing the invasive South American tomato leafminer. The pest, Phthorimaea absoluta (formerly Tuta absoluta), can be difficult to control once established. Through integrated pest management (IPM) and biological control approaches, farmers are learning how to manage the pest while reducing reliance on chemical…
How digital learning is helping students build practical plant health skills in Vietnam
At An Giang University (VNU-HCM) in Vietnam, lecturers are using CABI Academy courses alongside conventional teaching methods to help students develop practical plant health knowledge and skills. More than 400 students have enrolled, using the courses to support their laboratory work, field activities and independent study.
Scaling sustainable food production using integrated pest management
With the global population expected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, the challenge of feeding more people while protecting our planet has never been more urgent. Traditional farming methods often rely heavily on chemical pesticides, contributing to ecosystem damage and human health concerns. Integrated pest management (IPM) is an approach that combines biological, cultural, and…
Digital skills training: Enabling access to digital advisory tools for women in Nepal
In a world where digital solutions are rapidly transforming agriculture, too many women, especially in rural areas, remain on the periphery of this revolution. This was evident during the promotion of CABI digital tools in Nepal, where we noticed that many smallholder farmers, particularly women, lacked the digital skills needed to access and use information…
Can Uganda’s agro-dealers become champions of sustainable pest control?
The global surge in pesticide use has helped to increase agricultural productivity. However, it has also raised alarms about the risks they pose to health and the environment. In many low- and middle-income countries, agro-input dealers (commonly called agro-dealers) play a central role in supplying farmers with inputs such as fungicides, herbicides and insecticides. They…
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.
CABI study unearths important lessons for the fight against fall armyworm
A study by CABI contributes important knowledge on fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). CABI’s research findings suggests that employing more sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions could help mitigate the damaging impacts of the species.
Early pest warnings and IPM advice are improving food security for maize farmers in Ghana
Pest warnings are changing the way that smallholders in Ghana farm. Smallholder maize farmers in Ghana have long grappled with the challenges posed by crop pests. Over the past few years, this has included the notorious fall armyworm. This voracious invader has, in the past, led to significant crop losses. And the losses have impacted…
Integrated Pest Management upskilling initiative benefits wider community in Nakuru, Kenya
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is one of the tools for low-pesticide-input pest management. In the heart of Kenya’s Nakuru County, a PlantwisePlus initiative is underway. It aims to upskill and support women and young people to initiate agribusinesses that champion low-risk pest control products and practices. These micro-businesses provide employment for the trainees, while farmers…
Pesticides in tea: How can we manage tea pests more naturally, avoiding harmful chemicals?
On International Tea Day, we look at how we can reduce pesticides in tea. Tea is the second most widely consumed beverage in the world, after water. It’s estimated that people drink around three billion cups every day. But tea plantations are under threat from pests, and farmers must find effective ways to stop them.…