Digital extension campaign boosts farmers’ knowledge and capacity to manage fall armyworm in Zambia

SMS
An SMS campaign to promote awareness of fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) and mitigation measures, which was carried out in four Zambian provinces, has resulted in the enhancement of farmers’ knowledge and boosted their capacity to effectively manage the pest. The campaign was implemented by CABI’s Pest Risk Information SErvice (PRISE) project in partnership with Precision…
Read Further

Insect heroes fighting invasive species

pennywort weevil
Today marks the beginning of Insect Week (21-27 June) – a week to learn more about the science and natural history of insects. We are highlighting some of the insect heroes, and villains, CABI scientists work with on a regular basis. Scientists at CABI’s Egham laboratory work with a range of insect species, from plant-parasitic…
Read Further

CABI scientists share knowledge on fall armyworm diagnostics, ecology and its management in Philippines

FAW-larvae
CABI South East Asia (CABI-SEA) has hosted online training on the devastating fall armyworm (FAW) – looking at the diagnostics, ecology, surveillance and management of the pest in the Philippines, writes Dr Sathis Sri Thanarajoo and Mr Muhammad Faheem.
Read Further

UK Invasive Species Week floating pennywort campaign picture special

Floating pennywort launch
As part of UK Invasive Species Week 2021, we bring you – thanks to our friends at the Angling Trust – this collection of photos taken at the launch of a national campaign to tackle the highly invasive floating pennywort from blighting Britain’s rivers and lakes.
Read Further

CABI joins forces with FAO to tackle desert locust and fall armyworm pests in Asia Pacific region

desert locust podcast
CABI experts on invasive crop pests, based at the regional centre in India, have joined forces with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) to help farmers in the Asia Pacific region stave off the scourge of the desert locust (Schistocerca gregaria) and fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda).
Read Further

Weeding Invasive Alien Species – Africa’s Economic Burden

Man weeding a field
Weeds wreak havoc, day after day, year after year. They degrade agricultural land, deplete water resources and destroy crops, as well as being alternative hosts for crop pests. Yet, while weeds do cause damage to crop yields, a newly published study reveals that the vast majority of the costs are due to weeding.
Read Further

UK Invasive Species Week – how can we tackle some of the worst weeds in the UK?

Close up of Himalayan Balsam flower with a bee on it.
Today marks the beginning of UK Invasive Species Week (24-30 May) – a week to raise awareness about the threat of invasive species in the UK and the significant negative impacts they cause to our environment, our economy and our daily lives.
Read Further

Scientists exchange expertise on biocontrol agents for the management of devastating fall armyworm

FAW-Malvika
Since 2018, CABI has been actively supporting research on fall armyworm (FAW) management in India and Bangladesh while working closely with their national research institutes – the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insect Resources (NBAIR) and the Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute (BARI).
Read Further

Development communication campaign promotes sustainable management of fall armyworm in Kenya

CABI and the Cereal Growers Association (CGA) have been sharing information with farmers in Kenya on how to effectively and safely manage the continuing threat of the invasive fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda). This was achieved thanks to a  development communication campaign that combined video sharing through a network of lead farmers and social media.
Read Further

On Earth Day, we take a look at the sustainable control of invasive species

Locusts in a field
Today is Earth Day – a day when people around the world show their support for environmental protection. CABI’s vision is for a world in which the agricultural sector is embedded in a healthy and climate resilient landscape with clean water and air, healthy soils and functional ecosystem services, and where biodiversity is safeguarded through…
Read Further