CABI refurbishes MoFA laboratory for biological control of invasive species in Ghana
Through its global Action on Invasives (AoI) programme, CABI has refurbished a laboratory housed by the Plant Protection and Regulatory Services Directorate of Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA-PPRSD). The lab supports research efforts aimed at discovering and promoting locally practicable biological control solutions for managing invasive species in Ghana. The refurbishment consisted of…
Tomato farmers in Kenya believe area-wide pest management can easily be instituted and effectively control Tuta absoluta
Tomato is one of the most important vegetables grown in Kenya and plays a critical role in income generation and creation of employment for both rural and urban populations, in addition to meeting food nutritional requirements. Tuta absoluta – also known as tomato leafminer – is a native of South America (Peru) and is one…
‘A consortium is needed to combat the menace of Parthenium in Pakistan’
CABI in Pakistan, in collaboration with the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), arranged a seminar on ‘Research–academia linkages on parthenium’ held at New Senate Hall, on 9th June. Addressing the participants, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Muhammad Ashraf explained that parthenium is spreading at an alarming rate across the country and there is a clear need for…
Planting invasive species could make our carbon problem worse
This article was originally published on Popular Science Fast-growing vegetation can reduce carbon stored underground. The radiata pine has unwittingly taken root across the world. Its native range is confined to a small section of the California coast and a few islands along Baja California. Today, millions of acres of the tree are spread across South America,…
Sentinel trees: an early warning system for new invasive threats
With increased levels of human development, transportation and changing climates, we are seeing greater instances of invasive species introduction and spread across all continents. Such invasive species can cause significant ecological and economical impacts in targeted areas, for example the elm bark beetle (Hylurgopinus rufipes) which spread across Europe from North American log transports and…
Using online workshops to ensure the fight against invasive species continues in Pakistan
As the global COVID-19 pandemic continues, CABI is ensuring that efforts to combat invasive species are continuing. The CABI centre in Pakistan organized a one-day online workshop on the development of Pest Management Decision Guides (PMDGs) and Technical Briefs on the invasive pests: fall armyworm, parthenium weed, and Tuta absoluta.
Tomato farmers in Kenya willing to use integrated pest management and bioproducts to manage Tuta absoluta
Tomato is an important crop in meeting domestic nutritional food requirements as well as in income generation and creation of employment for both rural and urban populations in Kenya. However, tomato production is facing serious challenges from the invasive pest, Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta.) Since 2014, T.absoluta has become the most serious threat to the sustainable production…
Controlling Himalayan balsam, one of the UK’s most invasive weeds
Himalayan Balsam’s beautiful pink flowers appear between June and September. We take a look at Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera), one of the UK’s most invasive and problematic weed species, and the work CABI is doing to combat its spread. Why is Himalayan balsam such a big problem?
Biocontrol: Early season leaf damage could inform us whether a noxious invader produces seeds
CABI scientists suggest a forecasting model could assess the ability of a humble beetle to control Ambrosia artemisiifolia, which causes major crop losses and is a nuisance to human health, as part of a wider management plan that also includes mowing, ploughing or mulching of the fields just before male flower formation.
Rooting out ‘monster’ invasive weeds and pests from space
This article was originally published on SciDev.Net. Read the original article. Parthenium is a highly invasive weed that has spread to about 50 countries worldwide, threating agricultural productivity, biodiversity, ecosystems, and human and animal health. A major struggle to eliminate, parthenium can have heart-breaking impacts – it has been estimated to cause crop yield losses…