How bees can be a friend to smallholders
In an unprecedented study, honey bees have been found to be the world’s most important single species pollinator in natural ecosystems. Working alongside wild bees, they are also said to be responsible for every one in three bites of food. For the smallholder farmer, befriending bees – both honey and wild – could mean more…
Buzzing activity around pollinator health
By Anu Veijalainen, CABI. Reblogged from CABI Hand-picked blog. Yesterday I cherished the start of spring in England by attending an event devoted to pollinators and pollination at the University of Reading. Most presentations at this meeting organised by the Royal Entomological Society were understandably about bees, but we also heard a few talks highlighting the…
Update: Plant Health News (02 Mar 16)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including what can be done about the depleted nitrogen in African soils, investment in safe agricultural products in Vietnam and the effect El Niño is having on global food production. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Four new bee species described in Australia – many more remain unidentified
by Miroslav Djuric, DVM, CABI. Reblogged from CABI’s Hand Picked blog. Bee specialists from South Australia have described four new native bees. Three of these bee species have been described as having narrow faces and very long mouths, allowing them to feed on slender flowers found on the emu bush, a hardy native of the…
The unfortunate plight of the pollinators- Who are the culprits?
Why are pollinators declining? New research suggests neonicotinoids are to blame. When we talk of the crop production we hardly remember to acknowledge the services of these tiny pollinators and also don’t bother to safeguard them when we invest a lot in plant protection. These pollinators play an elemental role in an important process of…
Update: Plant Health News (20 Nov 13)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the development of sweet potatoes with multiple virus resistance, the reduction of aflatoxins using biological control and warnings from RAB about Maize Lethal Necrosis Disease. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Update: Plant Health News (06 Nov 13)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including a bumper harvest for Bangladesh from stress tolerant rice varieties, news that plant production could decline as climate change affects soil nutrients, and Autralia’s Minister for the Environment launches a new sustainability app for farmers. Click on the link to read more of the…
Update: Plant Health News (23 Oct 13)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including the role of botanic gardens in food security, how grazers and pollinators shape plant evolution and a new soil testing kit designed for smallholder farmers. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health news!
Update: Plant Health News (09 Oct 13)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including a new rice variety to cushion farmers against crop loss through blast, a checklist of scale insect pests in Iran and Asian citrus growers looking to diversity their crop with bananas. Click on the link to read more of the latest plant health…
Update: Plant Health News (28 Aug 13)
Here’s a taste of some of the latest stories about plant health, including two new types of coffee rust found in Costa Rica, the release of two extra-early maturing white maize Hybrids in Nigeria and the farmers who are diversifying their crops to increase resilience to climate change. Click on the link to read more of…