A bio pesticide against Armyworms

27 FEBRUARY 2013. The African armyworm, Spodoptera exempta, is an agricultural pest that can have a devastating impact on farms. A voracious caterpillar, it feeds on cereal crops and can destroy vast areas of agricultural land, in some cases up to 70%, in a period of days.

With outbreaks occurring across the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa, Tanzania and Kenya are particularly affected. Armyworms are similar to locusts in the level of crop damage they inflict. However, their outbreaks are far more frequent; in countries like Tanzania they are a problem nine years out of ten. The outbreaks can continue for months on end and leaves some farmers with a total loss of crops.

Sustainable agriculture research for international development (SARID) was a project co-funded by DFID and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) which supported research into how this pest could be managed in resource-poor areas.

In 2011 the SARID initiative uncovered crucial information on the ecology of a specific virus that attacks the armyworm. This was hailed as an important breakthrough. Prior to this, control of the pest had relied upon chemical insecticides, with over 3,000 litres of the organophosphate Malathion sprayed during a widespread outbreak in Ethiopia in June 2011. However an estimated 70% of farmers in the most affected regions could not afford insecticides. Thus the discovery of a natural enemy provided a crucial pathway for those farmers; an affordable means of combating the armyworm.

Since then research has continued into how this virus can be developed and used effectively.

SpexNPV is a baculovirus that infects only armyworms and is entirely safe to humans, livestock and other beneficial insects. By applying the virus as a biopesticide in the field in the field early in the crop-growing season, farmers are able to protect vital food supplies while allowing time for the development of fresh stocks of the virus, for later use.

In a recent video diary [Published on 28 Jan 2013] Professor Kenneth Wilson, of Lancaster University, traveled to Tanzania to collect armyworm samples and to speak with some of the farmers dealing with the problem in their fields.

 

The video illustrates just how dramatic and significant the impact of this pest can be upon the livelihoods of farmers. Standing in a field of brown stubble, a local farmer describes how only five days before the area was green with crops.

Professor Wilson discusses how research into the frequency and nature of outbreaks of the virus is leading to better understanding of the strategies needed to target armyworm invasions in the fields.

A facility, lead by Crop Biociences and funded by DFID, processes the dead infected caterpillars collected from the fields and allows for development of the virus on a larger scale. Wilson highlights the processing plant as key in increasing local capacity to deal with the problem.

An important element of the SARID initiative involved working closely with the farmers, keeping them informed and offering training. In the BBSRC video, children are filmed collecting the infected caterpillars. This participatory approach ensures that greater amounts of the virus can be harvested and processed.

“We can have a significant impact on the development of…[armyworm] outbreaks and stop further outbreaks, not only in Kenya and Tanzania but also in those neighbouring countries” says Wilson.

By involving local farmers and building local facilities Wilson seems optimistic about future progress in this area. For researchers and resource-poor farmers this battle may just be winnable.

Comment fabriquer des bio-pesticides?

Comment fabriquer des bio-pesticides et comment les utiliser dans le maraîchage urbain et périurbain? La question a figurée au centre de l'atelier de formation des animateurs agricoles sur les approches-champs-écoles-paysans. Cet atelier a eu lieu au groupement des maraîchers de Mayanga dans le premier arrondissement de Brazzaville.

Eugénie OLOMBA, Experte horticole R/D, FAO Kinshasa a rendu compte de cette experience lors de l' Atelier de définition et de validation des questions de recherche relatives à la filière maraîchère en Afrique Centrale, 24 janvier 2013.

Preparation bios pesticides 


Clôture de l'atelier de formation des...

Related:

African Indigenous Vegetables  in Urban Agriculture
First published by Earthscan in the UK and USA in 2009
Selection and editorial matter © Charlie M. Shackleton, Margaret W. Pasquini and
Axel W. Drescher, 2009


Drawing extensively from (but not restricted to) the discussions and research of the IndigenoVeg network, this book synthesizes existing knowledge and new information, bringing together the fields of indigenous vegetables and urban and peri-urban agriculture on the African continent.

In doing so, it highlights the potential synergies of the two fields with benefits for sustainable livelihoods, food security and biodiversity conservation, illustrated with new case studies from across sub-Saharan Africa.

It concludes by reflecting critically on what is understood about indigenous vegetables and urban agriculture, and what areas require further research, identifying the areas for policy intervention to bring the two fields together.

Related:
16/01/2013 - Communiqué de presse

Quelles ressources pour nourrir durablement les villes ? C'est la question que met en débat la Chaire Unesco Alimentations du monde, à l'occasion du 2e colloque international, qu'elle organise vendredi 1er février 2013, à Montpellier. Le Cirad est partenaire de l'événement.

Le 2e colloque international Eau, énergie, terres, emplois : Quelles ressources pour nourrir durablement les villes ? s’inscrit dans la mission de partage des savoirs de la Chaire Unesco Alimentations du monde, à laquelle participe le Cirad. Il vise tout particulièrement à susciter des débats entre enseignants, chercheurs, responsables des secteurs publics et privés, des organisations professionnelles, du mouvement associatif et de la société civile en général.

First Pesticidal Plant conference

21st to 24th January 2013, Nairobi, Kenya. The International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology is hosting the first Pesticidal Plant conference at their main campus. 

This conference is organised by the African Dryland Alliance for Pesticidal Plant Technologies: A network for optimising and promoting the use of indigenous botanical knowledge for food security and poverty alleviation in Africa.

ADAPPT is a project supported by a European Union grant through the ACP Science and Technology Programme to establish a network of scientists and agricultural technicians, from NGOs, agricultural institutes, ministries and universities from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom with a focus on pesticidal plants* as environmentally benign and safer alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The specific partners are listed on the Partners page of this website.

Subthemes:

1. Bio-prospecting: Product development, Bio-safety, Standardization and Commercialization
2. Environmental conservation and climate change: synthetic biology and biotechnology
3. Access and benefit sharing: Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, Advocacy and Policy
4. Culture and indigenous knowledge

Subject areas:

1. Stored product protection
2. Field crop pests
3. Livestock and human disease vectors
4. Plant disease control
5. Weed management
6. Bio-fertilizers and biopesticide technologies
7. Propagation and conservation
8. other pesticidal plant research

2nd Annual Conference on Biopesticides

5 - 6 December 2012. Berlin. Informa Life Sciences' 2nd Annual Conference on Biopesticides. The Informa Life Sciences Annual Biopesticide conference is a two-day event with more than 100 industry attendees ranging from small and medium-sized biopesticide companies to large multinational agrochemical organizations including Monsanto, Becker Underwood, Syngenta and more. The event delivered a comprehensive review of the biopesticide industry, including the diverse regulatory environment through the eyes of various European agencies.

Objectives:

• Gain a global update on biopesticides with speakers from USA & Europe 
• Keynote sessions from 5 Regulators and The European Commission
• speed networking and interactive panel sessions
• real-life case studies on market access, product registration from those who have gone through the process

A Pre Conferenece Workshop was organised on 4 December 2012: A Masterclass on Biopesticide:

• An introduction to biopesticides
• Definining biopesticides and the complexities that surround such a definition
• Background information relating to topics that will be discussed throughout the two day event

MBI CEO Pam Marrone opened the conference with “A Critical Analysis of the Biopesticides Industry,” including her perspective on the state of the industry, the advantages and disadvantages of biopesticides, current challenges facing the industry and the future outlook. Additionally, Marrone examined the biopesticide discovery process targeting nematicides and herbicides

“Over the last decade, the use of biopesticides has increased significantly due in no small part to improved performance and safety, reduced residues and shorter and less costly development process,” said Marrone. “Though the industry continues to face regulatory challenges for registration worldwide, biopesticides are increasingly becoming an important part of overall pest management programs as their performance matches that of chemical pesticides. This is leading to current expectations that biopesticides will significantly outpace the growth of chemical pesticides in the next few years to reach $3 billion by 2014”.

Pam Marrone is the CEO and founder of Marrone Bio Innovations , a leading developer of environmentally-responsible biopesticides. When compared with conventional chemicals and pesticides, the natural products developed at MBI result in healthier plants and a safer environment. In bringing natural alternatives to market for organic and conventional growers, Pam has built a successful business model within a growing industry -- all while helping to make our food safer and reduce pollution in our water and air that can put workers and consumers at risk.

 

Experts launch tool for identifying major rice weeds of Africa

October 11, 2012. COTONOU, Benin, /African Press Organization (APO)/ -- A new interactive tool for identifying nearly 200 different weed species of lowland rice in East and West Africa was recently unveiled at the Africa Rice Center (AfricaRice). The tool is built on a comprehensive knowledge base that can be accessed online () and offline on laptops and CD-ROMs or as an app on smartphones and tablet computers.

“Weeds are perhaps the most important constraint in rice production, so this is a valuable resource for all those involved in research, training and management of rice weeds in sub-Saharan Africa, where total rice production losses attributable to weeds are estimated at US$ 1.5 billion,” said Dr  Jonne Rodenburg, AfricaRice Weed Scientist.

The weed identification tool is the product of a 3-year project on “African Weeds of Rice” (AFROweeds), which is coordinated by the Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement (CIRAD) and AfricaRice with support from the European Union (EU) Africa, Carribean, Pacific (ACP) Science and Technology Program.

The project which is on the point of completion is carried out in close partnership with national agricultural research and extension systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Announcement: Harnessing Pesticidal Plant Technologies for Improved Livelihoods

21st - 24th January 2013. The First International Conference on Pesticidal Plants. The conference will be held at the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology, icipe, Nairobi.

Subthemes:
1) Bio-prospecting: Product development, Bio-safety, Standardization and Commercialization
2) Environmental conservation and climate change: synthetic biology and biotechnology
3) Access and benefit sharing: Intellectual Property Rights, Innovation, Advocacy and Policy
4) Culture and indigenous knowledge

Important Deadlines

• Abstract submission: 30th September, 2012
• Early registration: 31st October, 2012
• Exhibitors’ registration: 30st November, 2012
• Full Papers submission: 30st November, 2012

Background:

ADAPPT is a project supported by a European Union grant through the ACP Science and Technology Programme to establish a network of scientists and agricultural technicians, from NGOs, agricultural institutes, ministries and universities from Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom with a focus on pesticidal plants* as environmentally benign and safer alternatives to synthetic pesticides. The specific partners are listed on the Partners page of this website. ADAPPT will:

• Establish an intra-African network with linkages to international networks,
• Build capacity to assess research needs to facilitate the formulation and implementation of research policies associated with pesticidal plants and to prepare and submit project proposals for new funding opportunities, and
• Enhance the research capacity and incentive of the network partners and so increase the quality and impact of research results and disseminated outputs.

Aflatoxin control project receives approval for on-farm testing in Kenya

The Control of Aflatoxin Conta-mination in Maize and Peanuts project has received approval from the Kenya Standing Technical Committee on Import and Export (KSTCIE) to do on-farm testing of aflasafeKE01 on maize in Kenya. Food grains especially maize and peanuts are susceptible to aflatoxin contamination posing great risk to people who rely on them for food. Aflatoxin exposure provides a challenge in efforts to address food insecurity and improve people’s health.

Aflasafe, a natural biocontrol solution developed by the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) reduces aflatoxin contamination and is already in use in the USA. The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and USDA-ARS have successfully adapted the technology for use in Nigeria with results showing reduced contamination in maize and peanuts by upto 80–90 percent. AflasafeKE01 is a natural product that can reduce aflatoxin contamination of crops and has been developed in Kenya by the Kenya Agricultural Research Institute (KARI) in partnership with the AATF, IITA and USDA-ARS.The on-farm testing scheduled for May 2012 will involve a total of 400 farmers spread within eastern Kenya, and Bura and Tana River districts.

In a related event, the Partnership for Aflatoxin Control in Africa (PACA) in March 2012, provided funding for commence-ment of biocontrol work in Tanzania. Dr Jacob Mignouna of AATF, Dr Peter Cotty of the USDA and Dr Ranajit Bandyopadhyay from IITA met Tanzania’s Ministry of Agriculture and the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority officials on the same.

Farmers in Africa should switch to biopesticides

12 April 2012. SciDev. Manuele Tamò. Farmers in Africa should switch to biopesticides

The fungus Beauveria bassiana can protect cabbage against the diamondback moth

Flickr/BugMan50

Biopesticides are better and safer than chemical pesticides — policymakers must do more to promote them, says insect ecologist Manuele Tamò.

Local production. Bio-pesticides can be produced locally with cheap materials and simple equipment, and can generate additional household income by engaging womengroups or unemployed youth.

Recent examples of the production of a baculovirus to attack the cotton bollworm in India clearly demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. Community-based production of this virus was initially funded by a grant from the UK's Department for International Development. But it has continued beyond the end of the project, prompting nongovernmental organisations (NGOs), the private sector and even the government to set up production units.

Manuele Tamò is the Country
Representative IITA in Benin. 

In another example from Benin in West Africa, the international NGO SENS is encouraging community-owned enterprises to help farmers co-invest in producing biopesticides. One of these start-up enterprises, Phileol-HVC is already marketing a mixture of neem oil and essential oils branded BioPhyto. Designed for spraying horticultural crops, it costs a fraction of the price of synthetic pesticide, yet still provides the desired pest control and environmental benefits.

Scaling up. So why aren't more farmers using bio-pesticides in Africa? In West Africa, the main reason is the lack of 'off the shelf' availability. Some farmers may know the advantages of using botanical extracts, such as the absence of hazardous side-effects, but are reluctant to invest extra time and labour to produce them by themselves during the peak cropping season.

This is particularly true for male farmers. So engaging women groups or unemployed youth in producing biopesticides, as well as making them affordable and of good quality, helps promote their use. Research institutions and NGOs need to develop appropriate training materials to support the use, production, and quality control of biopesticides. Because there is no lab accreditation for quality control of biopesticides in Africa, it is currently done by producers in Africa — and they need appropriate training materials.

Similarly, vendors, consumers and policymakers need to be made aware of the higher quality and safety of products treated with bio-pesticides.

Pyrethrum: a white flower with significant business potential for Rwanda

Pyrethrum: a white flower with significant business potential for Rwanda:
A little white flower is bringing bright prospects for Rwanda’s economy, and the lives of thousands of small farmers in the process.

Rwanda now produces 15% of the world's pyrethrum.

One of just four major countries (Australia, Kenya, and Tanzania being the others) that grow pyrethrum, a flower refined into a highly demanded, natural, flower-based pesticide, Rwanda has been actively working to revive this once near-collapsed industry, and for good reason. With 70% to 80% of the pure active ingredients, Rwanda’s rich volcanic soil has the potential to produce some of the world’s best pyrethrum.

Last year, Rwanda’s pyrethrum flower production increased from 209 to 700 megatons, while export revenues increased by 380% and global market share surged from 6% to 15%. According to Karisimbi Business Partners, a Kigali-based consulting firm that is working with SOPYRWA, Rwanda’s only pyrethrum refinery, this also significantly contributed to the household incomes of over 8,000 farmers and increased land under pyrethrum cultivation.

A decade ago, Kenya dominated the production of pyrethrum, raking in about 70% of the global trade. Yet over the past six years, mishandling, corruption and delayed payments to farmers has caused a massive drop in Kenyan production. Industry experts claim that Kenya can still make nearly $135 million annually, but only if they renew their focus as well.

When Horizon Group took over SOPYRWA in 2008, the refinery was running at only 6% of installed capacity, producing just 4 metric tons of extract. In just two years, the company was producing 15.8 metric tons of extract.

SOPYRWA is now focusing on re-building the 15,000+ network of small farmers and their families who are key to their supply chain. By re-engaging private cooperatives, which deal directly with the local farmers and serve as collection points for dried pyrethrum, and offering farmers higher prices, immediate payment, and stronger high-yield seeds, SOPYRWA hopes to bring Rwanda’s share of the global pyrethrum market up to 20%. At the same time, SOPYRWA is now developing additional value-added products for the local region through a venture with a UK-based industry partner.

With government backing, and an expansion of global partnerships, SOPYRWA appears poised for another big year. Yet Crockett adds that the growth has as much to do with what SOPYRWA and the Government of Rwanda has done, as with the global market demand itself. Demand still outpaces supply by about 4:1, and the trend towards organic (e.g. anti-synthetic pesticides) coupled with Kenya’s collapsed pyrethrum sector puts Rwanda at a distinct advantage.

Given the ideal climate, both in terms of Rwanda’s improving business environment and its actual soil conditions, the potential for Rwanda’s pyrethrum production and refinement is vast.