Integrated crop management
Over the last decade, fundamental changes in agricultural practice across the globe have become increasingly important and unavoidable. In an effort to tackle environmental issues, alleviate poverty and enable food security, the Millennium Development Goals have sparked a global movement towards agricultural development. Furthermore, market globalization and growing consumer concerns about food safety and environmental health have encouraged many countries to adopt good agricultural practices (GAP) to elevate standards of food production.
To address the mounting pressure to develop and improve agricultural production, the integrated crop management (ICM) team at CABI Europe – Switzerland works with local partners in developing, transitional and developed countries, promoting the adoption of ICM as a long term strategy.
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We provide technical support and facilitate activities that improve agricultural practices. For example, we promote appropriate use of natural resources and support the implementation of integrated pest management (IPM) to reduce unnecessary use of pesticides.
We recognize the inherent challenges in implementing such shifts in agricultural practices, so we use multi-stakeholder approaches to innovation. We work at farm, institution and government levels to support the participatory development, validation, implementation and dissemination of economically viable ICM solutions. Furthermore, constant project monitoring and evaluation enables us to adapt to changing project needs, as well as demonstrate the delivery and impact of our activities.
We implement knowledge exchange practices to ensure ICM conceptual frameworks of ICM are developed according to local conditions and beneficiaries’ needs. In addition, we establish regulatory frameworks and policy tools to guarantee synchronization with international agricultural standards such as GAP and IPM. Through developing technology and skills, we enhance capacity at all levels to ensure tangible improvements towards environmentally and economically sustainable agriculture.
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Led by Ulrich Kuhlmann the team consists of six ICM Advisors: Manfred Grossrieder, Emma Hunt, Dirk Babendreier and Wade Jenner located in Switzerland; Stefan Toepfer in Hungary; and Feng Zhang who is based in China.
All our team members possess a high level of technical agricultural knowledge built through years of experience in a science-based environment. Our capacity has been enhanced through project experience in Europe, Asia and North and South America, and as a result, the team offers broad expertise in the field of ICM.
Among our strengths is our ability to respect and adapt to different cultures. We understand the importance of learning about local conditions and incorporating local knowledge into tailor-made solutions directly in accordance with specific local needs.
Above all, we pride ourselves on our ability to form trusting and lasting relationships with our project partners. This, together with our ability to deliver high quality, punctual project results, is vital for success in our area of work.
Being part of a large international organization is one of the primary advantages of our ICM team. Through CABI’s member countries and extensive international networks, we have a wealth of scientific and non-scientific information at our fingertips.
We are currently implementing conceptual ICM frameworks in collaboration with colleagues in CABI Africa, CABI China and CABI Europe – UK. We are also working with local partners in developing, transitional and developed countries such as DPR Korea, China, Argentina, Nicaragua, Kosovo, Albania, Turkey, Tanzania and Canada.
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Improving maize production in DPR Korea
In the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPR Korea), we are helping to provide solutions to the most destructive maize pest in Asia: the Asian corn borer. We are facilitating the construction of 28 low-tech, energy-saving, beneficial-insect-production facilities, which will help manage the pest in a sustainable way. This will result in an estimated 20% (0.8t/ha) increase in maize yield over approximately 20,000 ha. To ensure this IPM approach is sustainable, relevant training has been provided to the personnel of the production facilities, extension specialists from cooperative farms, and farmers. This work is leading to increased economic stability and enhanced food security for around 108,000 people on the project farms. More > |
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Boosting apple production in rural Albania
In Albania, we have facilitated the formation of an apple IPM producer club, through which members are able to purchase low-toxicity pesticides and establish their own internal advisory and training service. Furthermore, an internal farm inspection scheme is being created to ensure that producer club members are complying with the requirements the club’s tailor-made production standards. Ultimately, the apple producer club members should be able to produce high quality apples that can compete with imported products. More > |
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Improving the lives of Argentina's tobacco farmers
In Argentina, the ICM team has been facilitating the implementation of an IPM programme for tobacco. IPM is an important component of the GAP standards of the tobacco suppliers. Through collaboration with a dedicated local team of eight trainers and two coordinators, an astounding 10,000 farmers – many of whom live in isolated and relatively inaccessible locations – were trained within the first three years of the project. This IPM training will improve tobacco quality and help these farmers to continue reliable partnerships with the tobacco supplier companies. This, in turn, will help to guarantee a secure livelihood for the contracted farmers and their families for the foreseeable future. More > |
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Training DPR Korea's new generation in sustainable agriculture
In DPR Korea, the ICM team, in collaboration with the Pyongyang Agricultural University of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences has developed a curriculum and lecture series for an IPM course at the university. The newly established undergraduate course at the university is comprized of 28 hours of lectures and 42 hours of practical training. The IPM curriculum was authorized by the national Ministry of Education at the beginning of 2009 and will be introduced to other provincial and even county-level universities and colleges nationwide. More > |