Biopesticide Research and Product Development in Africa for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security – Experiences From the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)

• DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2020.563016
• Publication Date: 2020-09-30T09:01:12Z
• Authors: Komivi Senyo Akutse; Sevgan Subramanian; Nguya Kalemba Man...; Thomas Dubois; Sunday Ekesi
• Keywords: Biopesticide

Arthropod pests and vectors constrain the livelihood opportunities of people in Africa by debilitating production crops livestock through transmission vector-borne diseases. In absence effective alternative management options to tackle these vectors, there is extensive dependence on synthetic pesticides for their crop systems, with significant negative impacts animal human health, environment. Biopesticides are environmentally sustainable alternatives pesticides. At International Centre Insect Physiology Ecology (icipe), Pathology Unit (APU) was established biopesticide research-for-development (R4D), underpinned a large repository arthropod pathogens, protocols lab bioassays field efficacy testing, an public-private partnership generate new products. The focus icipe's APU has gradually transformed from basic applied research leading innovative, commercial Among insect greater been placed fungi, especially Metarhizium anisopliae, against key pests. Presently, three biopesticides based M. anisopliae strains researched icipe have commercialized Real IPM (Thika, Kenya) used 132,994 ha sub-Saharan Africa, registration additional products ticks fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda pending. Our R4D activities pathogens increasingly include bacteria, microsporidia, entomopathogenic nematodes viruses. Recently, expanding towards plant endophytes rhizosphere inhabitants. also embarked understanding diversity, roles possible exploitation symbionts pest disease vectors. addition, entomopathogens reared insects food feed need be identified controlled high hygiene standards during rearing. Further, aimed at integrating not only other integrated (IPM) technologies but pollination services.