Integrated food supply chain to get integrated support

With ever-closer integration of farming and food manufacturing, world renowned science-based organisations Campden BRI and CABI have developed a strategic alliance to provide technical support from ‘seed to shelf’.

The alliance will benefit small, medium and larger companies as well as initiatives from government and NGOs aimed at supporting food production.

The food supply chain faces enormous challenges in meeting the needs of a growing and more affluent population – all within the constraints imposed by sustainable production of safe and wholesome food.

Science, technology, knowledge and their practical application will be absolutely crucial in meeting these challenges. The alliance between CABI and Campden BRI will combine the power of over 600 experts in key areas such as sustainable agronomy, post-harvest technology, food processing and preservation, packaging, and hygiene and safety assurance.

It will also draw on their extensive and long-established skills in information, publishing, knowledge ...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5203

MIPR to collaborate with CABI in research on biodiversity

Described as a “Biological Resources Cooperation”, the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) in Brunei is exploring their biodiversity through their collaboration with CABI.

With the signing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) the two organizations will research and develop the country’s biological diversity, identify and characterize forest microbes and those related to vegetation, and develop a long-term business plan for the viable collection of microbiology. The opportunity also allows development of national databases and the exchange of experts and information through joint training between the two bodies.

MIPR’s Permanent Secretary Hjh Normah Suria Hayati Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama Dr Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri highlighted Brunei's large and pristine verdant landscape as a huge asset providing not only environmental protection but also a vast opportunity for bio-industry.

"Bruneian microbes are highly diverse and the potential for new discovery of novel species is very promising that could be of benefit to the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and herba...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5179

CABI and IPPC unite for trade and food security progress

CABI and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) have announced steps towards an expanded relationship, one that will harness the strengths of both organisations in the fight for global food security, more open trade, and improved environmental protection. To support this commitment, CABI will dedicate £40,000 towards collaboration activities with IPPC in 2013.

Coordinator of the IPPC Secretariat, Craig Fedchock (centre), joined CABI’s CEO Trevor Nicholls (right) and Director of CABI Europe-Switzerland Ulrich Kuhlmann to outline the long-term strategy which this new funding will support. As the only international standard-setting body for plant health recognised by the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the IPPC’s mission is to support trade while protecting natural ecosystems, a goal largely underpinned by the science of plant protection and practices of pest management.

Ruth Harrison’s seminal title Animal Machines is to be re-launched on 12 March at Oxford University’s biodiversity conference to celebrate its lasting impact on animal welfare.

Written in 1964 and considered by many as the stand-alone title that began the animal welfare movement, Animal Machines was an instrumental work that brought key legislative changes across the UK and EU food industries to improve animal welfare.

Visiting UK farms up and down the country, author Ruth Harrison used Animal Machines to document her first-hand accounts of the inhumane practices associated with intensive farming in the UK’s food industry including the use of battery cages and veal crates.

Following recent concerns over the need for more stringent regulations across the food system after the recent horsemeat scandal rocked European Industries, Marian Stamp Dawkins- Oxford University’s zoology professor and contributor to the new edition- believes the message behind Animal Machines is more relevant now than eve...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5159

Researching for Impact

A developer helps construct an impact pathway at the Hackathon (Credit: Euforic Services)

There is a problem commonly expressed of research. That after months, and sometimes years, of study, it ends up jargon-laden, over complicated, and of little practical use to the majority of people. This problem is rarely in sharper relief than in the context of agriculture and nutrition. In a world where 870m people are malnourished, and a growing population is putting ever more pressure on the food system, research has to provide real implementable and practical answers and solutions.

It was with this in mind that CABI and IDS sponsored the recent Research to Impact Hackathon in Nairobi, Kenya. This event brought together representatives from CABI, IDS and R4D with local experts in agriculture and nutrition, as well as developers from Nairobi. Together these groups looked at how to bridge the gap between research and application – and how IT developers could utilise communications technology to translate scientific research into something that can be used on the ground.

The group began by creating personas for indivi...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5158

CABI welcomes its 48th Member

 
CABI welcomed Barbados as its 48th member country in a ceremony attended by CABI Chief Executive Officer, Dr Trevor Nicholls and the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Michael King. The ceremony took place at the CABI Regional Consultation meeting with Member Countries from the Americas and the Caribbean which was held in Barbados from 20-21 February, 2013.

CABI CEO, Dr Trevor Nicholls (right) welcomes Barbados to the CABI family as the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and Water Resource Management, Michael King receives the Country Membership Certificate on behalf of Barbados.
 

“Membership of CABI gives national governments input into CABI’s global development agenda and links them to CABI’s international network of partners. We welcome Barbados to CABI membership and thank them for hosting the regional consultation meeting. We look forward to continuing our work with Barbados and to welcoming more member countries from all over the world.’’ Dr Trevor Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer, CABI.
 

“Barbados has maintained a close relati...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5118

Helping Farmers Innovate to Harvest More From Less

By Trevor Nicholls

By 2050, we face the challenge of feeding 50% more people within the finite and diminishing resources on the planet. Significant investment is going into the development of new crop varieties that will offer higher yields, greater pest resistance or better tolerance of adverse conditions. There is also a vigorous debate about the potential to extend available farmland and increase the global area under cultivation.

These developments can only be part of the solution. Agriculture will face increasing competition for scarce water and land resources as society seeks to balance its needs and desires for more food with demands for increasingly scarce (and hence lucrative) mineral resources, space for urbanisation, protection of ecosystems and protection of biodiversity. Simply expanding agricultural capacity will not be sufficient. We must lose less of what we already grow and use existing inputs more efficiently if we are to meet the challenge of achieving global food security.

On average, 40% of the crops grown worldwide are lost to pests and diseases before they reach the consumer, on top of which is wastage during proce...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5142

Benefits of pet ownership emphasized in Human-Animal Bond symposium

Pet owners are more likely to live healthier lives, according to world renowned experts at a recent symposium held by not-for-profit publishers CABI.

The symposium on the human-animal bond and its implications in veterinary practice, held at this year’s London Vet Show, highlighted the numerous health benefits associated with animal ownership including reduced stress levels, lowered risk of heart attacks and strokes, and greater success when fighting depression.

The event, which included talks from four international experts in the field of human and animal welfare, revealed several key scientific studies that show how animal ownership has improved human health.

In his opening talk, Professor Alan Beck of Purdue University, Indiana, began the symposium by describing the different ways in which a bond with animals affects people, particularly where animals provide companionship and affection. This is recognised by the US National Institutes of Health which have directed funding towards research into the human-animal bond.

Dr Sandra McCune followed to reveal recent scientific findings that indicate the di...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5148

Project to manage pests in Southeast Asia’s forests is launched in the Philippines

A project aiming to manage invasive alien species in Southeast Asia’s Forests was officially launched in the Philippines this month. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and executed by CABI, the project is running in Cambodia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

Launched by the Undersecretary for the Staff Bureau from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Attorney Ernesto D. Adobo, Jr. on the 9th January 2013, the event marked a major milestone towards managing invasive alien species in the Philippines and could be a platform for a bigger agenda on invasive alien species here. It was attended by at least 60 participants from a number of government institutions, non-government organizations, universities and the media, and brought together key organizations which will implement the project within the country. CABI was represented by the International Project Coordinator, Dr A. Sivapragasam. 

In his keynote addr...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5151

Mobile Phones Deliver Advice to Farmers in Pakistan

More than 30 percent of farmers in Pakistan’s target districts can be advised on plant health issues via their mobiles phones, a new CABI report reveals this week. Initial results from the second phase of the DFID-sponsored programme, CABI working with the Government of Punjab, show outreach numbers increased 20 percent in areas targeted by the mobile advice network, and at lower cost than traditional agricultural extension methods. By providing real time answers to pest and disease queries, CABI’s aim is to reduce crop loss, improve food security and help farmers bring more produce to market. The long term goal is to improve livelihoods sustainably in-country, and new technology is proving key.

“Getting critical advice to large numbers of farmers in remote locations,  when natural disasters strike, can be extremely difficult, but with mobile services stepping in to bridge gaps, we can expand outreach to farmers with the latest and most relevant advice,” says Elizabeth Dodsworth, CABI’s Global Director of Knowledge Management.

The CABI report outlines the second phase of the project focused on data collection, mo...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5027

CABI Chief Scientist gets award from expert organization

Dr Matthew Cock, CABI’s Chief Scientist, has been elected as an honorary member of the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC) Global for playing an important role in biological control and in the organization’s history. Matthew Cock, who’s been with CABI for nearly 35 years, has worked in the area of biological control and integrated pest management (IPM) for much of this time, more recently focusing on the implications of the Convention on Biological Diversity and climate change for biological control.

Following his appointment as Chief Scientist in 2009, he joined the IOBC Global Commission on Biological Control and Access & Benefit Sharing, leading the preparation of the Commission’s report on biological control and access & benefit sharing to the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (CGRFA) of FAO, possibly influencing the negotiations for the Nagoya Protocol on Access & Benefit Sharing in 2010.

Dr Matthew Cock subsequently led a...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5144

CABI author comes to Oxford

CABI author and world renowned expert on animal behaviour John Bradshaw will be educating Oxford pets owners on Wednesday 16 January with his talk on “Why Cats and Dogs are different”.

The talk, taking place in Oxford’s Blackwell’s Bookstore on Broad Street at 7:00pm, will use recent research and insights from John Bradshaw’s books The Behaviour of the Domestic Cat and In Defence of Dogs to discuss the origination of dog and cat behaviour and how we as owners can provide supportive relationships for them.

With 48% of UK households owning at least one pet and with populations of UK cats and dogs estimated at 8 million each, understanding domestic animal behaviour is a growing area of interest for both the academic community and pet owners.

Andy Hughes, expert photographer and creator of his recent publication I, Jack Russell will be supporting the t...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=5119

CABI achieves unique UKAS accreditation for molecular identification of bacteria 

CABI is pleased to announce that its Microbial Services division has achieved UKAS accreditation to ISO 17025 for the molecular identification of bacteria. The accreditation covers identification of bacteria isolates to species level by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This service is unique in the UK, as it's the only service to be accredited by UKAS for the entire identification process including providing the name of the organism.

CABI already holds UKAS accreditation for a wide range of microbial testing. UKAS accreditation provides an assurance of competence, impartiality and integrity. Customers not only benefit from a high quality service operating to internationally recognized standards but also receive reports bearing the UKAS symbol of quality, bringing national and international recognition to their business. The full range of UKAS accredited services offered by CABI can be found here >

Global Invasive Partnership launched at COP11

CABI to join invasive species partnership GIASIP at COP 11.
 

On Wednesday 10 October the Global Invasive Alien Species Information Partnership (GIASIP) is to be officially launched at the Convention of Biological Diversity’s (CBD) annual event COP11.

GIASIP, whose overall goal is to promote knowledge exchange on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), will provide a platform to promote international collaboration across a range of global partners. The partnership will look to connect providers and users of information services on IAS across a global network to help communicate issues to combat the environmental impact posed by such species. By entering the partnership, CABI will join a host of other collaborators from high-level intergovernmental organizations to local and indigenous communities across the world who are committed to control IAS.

In line with the CBD’s Aichi Biodiversity Target 9 taken from the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, a 10 year plan which looks to identify and prioritise methods to eradicate the threats posed by invasive species, GIASIP will be well positioned to enable governments and other authoritative bodies to make informed management decisions to minimise IAS impacts.

Following the organisational workshop conducted in July at London's Natural History Museum, th...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4902 ...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4949

Official Launch of Research to Action at 3ie PIM workshop

Press Release, 24 Setember 2012

 
www.researchtoaction.org, a platform that aims to support researchers’ approaches to research communication and engagement, is set to be officially launched this week on Tuesday 25th September during the 3ie PIM workshop.

The website offers guidance and inspiration on effective research engagement for organisations, policy actors, researchers, graduates and individuals with an interest in development research. With a wide selection of resources and useful guides, R2A provides all you need to plan and design effective research uptake strategies, helping to bridge the gap between research, policy and practice.

Research to Action (R2A), managed by CommsConsult with support from Euforic Services and CABI, is an interactive platform and regularly welcomes contributions from people throughout the research for development community with an interesting and useful story to tell. As well as original content, the site provides access to a whole host of relevant and useful resources across the web; as well as providing a one-stop shop for all the latest new...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4905

News story, 26 July 2012

CABI supports DFID open access policy

CABI, the international publisher, knowledge management and development organization, has welcomed the initiative by the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) to make all research funded by them freely available.

“It is unarguable that research that has been funded in order to improve the lives of people in poorer countries should be freely accessible and easily discoverable,” said Martin Parr, Programme Manager at CABI, who is responsible for running R4D, DFID’s online repository of research outputs. “We have been working closely with DFID to develop the open access policy and to ensure that R4D both makes it easier for people to find open access research outputs and helps DFID check that their policy is working.”

R4D was initially established in 2006 and was developed and subsequently managed by CABI. As a result of working with DFID on its open access policy, R4D now contains information about the open access status of each record, links to information from the Directory of Open Access Journals, and links to other DFID open-access research.

“Having already played a major role in opening up access to a wide variety of research materials and grey literature, we believe that R4D will be a v...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4900

News story, 19 July 2012

Roger Leakey: "Harness the ecological power of trees"

“Tropical agriculture is nowhere near as productive as it could be for a host of agronomic, environmental and social reasons. The problem is not that the yield potential of current crop varieties needs to be increased. Food security could be easily achieved if the crop husbandry of modern varieties allowed them to achieve their current potential.”

In his new book, Living with the Trees of Life, published by CABI this month, renowned agroforestry expert Roger Leakey aims to broaden the debate on solutions to food security beyond the current highly polarized arguments for the use of biotechnology versus organic farming.

The book presents his Equator Prize-winning three-step plan to fill the Yield Gap – the difference between yield potential and what the farmers are actually achieving – and urges governments and development organizations to harness the ecological power of trees.

“Trees lie at the heart of mature ecosystems providing thousands of organisms with the niches they need to perform a dynamic balancing trick based on the regulation of each other’s life cycles and food chains,” he said in an interview with C...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4888

Press release, 3 July 2012

Help for farmers top of the agenda as CABI establishes new office in Ghana

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Alhaji Muhammed Mumuni, will lead the inauguration of a new office in Accra, Ghana for international science and agriculture organization CABI in a formal ceremony on 4 July 2012. This will bring the number of CABI’s international centres to 12 and give it for the first time a base in West Africa.

Situated on the CSIR (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research) campus, CABI will join an important group of research and development organizations in what is rapidly becoming a West African hub of scientific and agricultural knowledge. It will be well positioned to support smallholder commodity producers in Ghana and will aim to work closely with national and international organizations to respond quickly to local needs. CABI also plans to extend its activities throughout the region, particularly in its current member countries, Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone.

“Ghana has a large agricultural sector, making up nearly half of its annual GDP,” said Morris Akiri, CABI’s Regional Director for Africa.  “We hope that we’ll be able to contribute to helping Ghana’s farmers grow more and better crops, and lose less to pests and diseases. Our know-h...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4766

CABI re-index improves searching and retrieval for database products

Press release, 19 April 2012

Seamless searching and one-click retrieval are now realities for customers of life sciences publisher CABI’s world-leading abstracts databases, thanks to a major re-indexing project.

All 9 million+ records on CAB Direct have been re-indexed to bring them into line with the controlled vocabulary of the updated 2011 CAB Thesaurus. This has standardized indexing and searching across all database records from 1910 to the present day, enabling the retrieval of all records for an organism or concept using the current up-to-date name, despite the fact that over time it may have been indexed using older names or terminology.

CABI also added more than 415,000 new Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) to older database records, which allows a direct click through to the original publisher record and often to the full text article.

“We are strongly committed to the continuous improvement of all of our products,” said Janet Halsall, Head of Publishing Operations, CABI. “This re-indexing has improved the database products by adding extra searchability and more links out to newly digitized source material. This includes DOIs for journal articles indexed by CABI back through time to 1910. Now customers can click through to th...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4765

Rice clinics to improve food security in rural India

Specialised rice plant clinics increase crop production for smallholder farmers in Northern India.

A network of plant clinics was launched last month in the Uttar Pradesh region of India to help rural farming communities diagnose and treat rice plant pests and diseases. By minimising the effects of pests such as brown plant hopper and weeds which have been known to destroy up to 60% rice crops in Indian farms, 25 rice plant doctors provided expert advice on treatments that mitigate crop losses and increase production for smallholder farmers.

The project, which provided the first specialised service of its kind, was led by the International science-based organisation CABI in collaboration with India’s science based agri-business pioneer, PI industries Ltd. The clinics visited 11 locations throughout the province to provide a farm advisory service to rice growers. Mimicking the “drop-in centres” of National Health Systems, the clinics use plant doctors to identify the biotic or abiotic stresses from live crop samples that limit production and advise on immediate treatments for farmers. The initiative was welcomed by farmers who believed the plant clinic’s timely intervention helped increase rice production and income.

Mr Salil Singhal, Chairman and Managing Director of PI Industrie...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4764

Handygo lends a helping hand

CABI secures partnership with Handygo to extend agricultural information to India’s rural communities.

Handygo technologies, one of India’s the leading mobile value-added service (VAS) providers, has collaborated with CABI’s Direct2Farm initiative to extend the reach of agricultural knowledge to India’s rural poor. Combining Handygo’s expertise in mobile technology platforms with CABI’s agricultural knowledge repository, the partnership will provide India’s rural farmers with access to locally specific agricultural knowledge through Short Messaging Services (SMS) and Interactive Voice Response (IVR).

The partnership with Handygo technologies, which joins other VAS collaborators such IKSL, will extend the coverage of Direct2Farm’s agro-infomediary service to more rural communities. By aggregating current information on farming techniques that are specific to localised agro-climatic, economic and cultural conditions, Direct2Farm provides farmers with the practical solutions needed to increase productivity and reduce the impacts of threats.

The service, covering 18 regional languages across India, aims at opening access of agricultural knowledge to smallholder farmers by overcoming geographic and language barriers simultaneously. Elizabeth Dodsworth, CABI’s Direct2Farm project executive, explains the...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4871

News story, 19 June 2012

First Plantwise plant clinic opens in China
 

China’s first Plantwise plant clinic has been successfully established in Rongjiang town, Xing’an county, Guangxi province, Southwest China. At the first session a large number of local farmers arrived with problem crop samples to consult the plant doctors; Han Chuyuan, a vineyard owner, travelled more than 40km with his samples of pest-damaged vines and grapes.

This clinic will be open weekly for farmers at a fixed site to provide timely and professional diagnostic services and integrated pest management recommendations.
With financial support from MoA and the UK Department for International Development (DFID), Staff in CABI’s China office have already helped to set up four plant clinics in China and will complete another five by the end of June, in collaboration with Institute of Plant Protect, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPP-CAAS), local pa...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4581

Smarter investment in agriculture needed to help Africa feed itself

Press release, 5 December 2011

Soil fertilizer subsidy programmes run by many African governments are heading for failure unless Integrated Soil Fertility Management and good agricultural practice are promoted at the same time, says the Africa Soil Health Consortium (ASHC), a group of scientific and agricultural experts led by the international science and development organization, CABI.

In a video produced for World Soil Day on 5 December 2011, ASHC argues that using mineral fertilizer alone is not enough. It urges policymakers to widen their investments in soil fertility to promote Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) where mineral fertilizer is combined with organic inputs (such as manure, or legume crops) and improved seed varieties in ways that are locally adapted to take account of the soil and socio-economic conditions of farms and farmers. 

Decades of increasing intensification of farming to support the rapidly growing population combined with a succession of one-size-fits-all treatments have deprived the soil in much of Africa’s farmland of nutrients, leaving it less fertile and less capable of supporting high yields. “The high price of mineral fer...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=3778

CABI to launch major push for improved soil health knowledge across Africa

Project will give farmers and policymakers in Sub-Saharan Africa knowledge they can use to improve soil fertility and boost farm productivity for millions

Press release, 6 December 2010

CABI, the non-profit science and development organization, has received funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation that will contribute to radical change in the understanding and use of Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) techniques in Sub-Saharan Africa, enabling smallholder farmers to grow more and better crops. 

The four-year, $4.5 million project will work closely with scientists from research institutes in the region and Europe and in ongoing development initiatives, particularly the AGRA Soil Health Program. Using an open consortium approach, it will ensure that the wealth of research and new information available on the subject of ISFM is successfully brought together, communicated, and translated into action by everyone involved in farming systems development – from policymakers and university lecturers to extension workers, input suppliers and the farmers themselves.

“Soil fertility degradation has been described as the second most serious constraint to food security in Africa,” said Morris Akiri...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=3925

China and CABI enjoy a double celebration

News item, 1 February 2011

“Partnership”, “pride” and “achievement” were the watchwords as 30 Chinese and international agricultural officials and specialists gathered in Beijing in January to celebrate the 100th birthday of CABI (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International) and 30 years of fruitful collaboration between China and CABI.

CABI staff from the UK, Malaysia, Switzerland and China joined representatives from the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) at a Dinner hosted by CABI on 18 January 2011. The Dinner was accompanied by a small exhibition, slide show, and ceremonial cake.

“As the most populous member country of CABI, China is of great strategic importance,” said Ian Barry, CABI Chief Financial Officer. “When in 1995 China became a Member Country of CABI, it was a major boost to our full internationalization and led to a considerable expansion of our interests and activities throughout Asia.” 
<...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4723

Agreement with USDA to feed more knowledge to Plantwise

News story, 5 March 2012
 

Research and information from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be feeding the knowledge bank behind CABI’s Plantwise initiative, thanks to a partnership agreement signed in Washington on 8 February 2012.

CABI CEO Dr Trevor Nicholls signed the Memorandum of Understanding with USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, Catherine Woteki. Under the agreement USDA will contribute research and information to the Plantwise knowledge bank that underpins the plant clinics and other Plantwise activities.

Blogging on the USDA website, Dr Woteki wrote: “Programs like Plantwise can play an important role in empowering […] farmers with the right knowledge to address pests in an integrated and effective way, thereby reversing the loss of crops, and increasing their food production.

“At USDA, we will continue to bring our experience with research, extension, and education systems to assist those that need our assistance – to further our mutual goals of food security, health, and sustainability.”

a report published today.

The report, Strengthening the Veterinary Profession in India to Improve Food Security, is the outcome of a recent expert consultation held in New Delhi, by ICAR, the science and agriculture organization CABI, the University of Edinburgh and the Royal Veterinary College London/Wikivet, and supported by Pfizer Animal Health. It warns that without sufficient numbers of veterinarians, there is a serious threat of outbreaks of zoonotic diseases – diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Major investment is needed to fund the necessary expansion of the veterinary profession in India. As well as increasing the numbers of veterinarians, the report focuses on the need to raise the standards of practice, and public private partnerships, such as those between academia and pharmaceutical corporations, provide an opportunity to do this.

Dr Pradhan of the World Health Organisation (WHO), who al...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4615

Search and research: upgrade makes DFID database even easier to use

News story, 3 January 2012

Researchers now have faster and easier access to information on development projects, thanks to an upgrade to the Department for International Development’s (DFID) website.

For the first time, research that had previously been communicated through the Research for Development (R4D) website is now fully integrated into DFID’s website, creating a one-stop shop for all information relating to the UK Government’s international development activities.

The Research for Development (R4D) portal, which contains information on all research funded by DFID, was initially established in 2006 and managed by CABI.

Although the website was already proving successful in the dissemination of research, this upgrade will take that further, with research searchable not only by a simple keyword but also by country or region, by theme, by research contacts, or by advanced boolean search.

CABI has decades of experience in providing users with clearly organized, accessible data and has applied this to the new site. Martin Parr, who leads the team working on the project, explained: “This upgrade has created a much more modern, exciting interface for R4D” addi...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4554

Which is the world’s worst agricultural pest?

News story, 9 November 2011

They have caused famines that killed millions; they have precipitated the release of hundreds of megatonnes of carbon; they even turned the UK into a nation of tea-drinkers. And today they are still destroying around 40 per cent of the crops that we grow worldwide. Agricultural pests and diseases have a lot to answer for.

So which is the worst? Actually, it’s impossible to say: there are just so many of them, and they are a daily problem for millions of people across the world who depend on what they can grow on their own land to feed themselves and their families.

But the more we know about pests and diseases – where they occur, how they spread, how to recognize them – the more effectively we can target research, plan mitigation strategies, and, most importantly, arm farmers with the knowledge to protect their own crops.

CABI scientists have put together a list of what they consider to be some of the world’s worst pests today, in categories such as Most expensive pest to control and Most imminent threat, and published it on the BBC website.

Have a read. It’s not a definitive list: just the opening remarks in what we hope will be a lively discussion that raises awareness o...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4549

CABI sponsors ORCID to improve tracking of scholarly authors

Press release, 27 October 2011

Not-for-profit life sciences publisher CABI has joined the founding sponsors of ORCID (Open Researcher and Contributor ID), the organization set up to solve the problem of name ambiguity in scholarly research.

CABI has become a Silver Sponsor of the organization, which plans to launch its service in early 2012. In addition to supporting ORCID Inc. CABI will also join other participants in contributing to the development of standard author identifiers that can be deployed broadly throughout the industry.

ORCID is working with more than 250 organizations with an interest in scholarly research to create a permanent, clear, and unambiguous record of scholarly communication by enabling reliable attribution of authors and contributors. The aim is to create a central registry of unique identifiers for scholarly researchers, who will be able to create and maintain profiles free of charge. This registry will link with other author identifier schemes to allow universities, publishers, funding bodies, and individual academics more easily to track publications, identify potential reviewers and collaborators, and measure the outputs from research.

“As both a publisher and a research organization, CABI will benefit in many different ways from the ORCID ...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4545

Collaborative agreement creates new opportunities for Scots scientists

Press release issued by Beattie Communications

3 October 2011

Scottish marine biotechnology firm Aquapharm has signed an agreement with the Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International (CABI) which will allow the organisations to access and co-promote one another's unique microbe collections.

Aquapharm specialises in the discovery, isolation and development of novel functional active ingredients, sustainably harvested from marine micro-organisms for potential use in a wide range of commercial sectors.

Meanwhile not-for-profit organisation CABI - which is highly respected for its cutting-edge research - applies scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment, with a focus on scientific publishing, development and research, and microbial services.

The agreement sets out how Aquapharm and CABI will share know-how and resources, paving the way for the future commercialisation of a variety of microbial strains/extracts.

Jon Williams, Aquapharm's Business Development Director, said: "This collaboration recognises Aquapharm's position as a leader in the sustainable commercial exploitation of marine resources, and we are excited by the opportunities it will bring...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4513

New paperback editions for CABI bestsellers

Scientists to tackle alien invaders in the South Atlantic

News story, 19 September 2011

There’s an alien invasion in progress in the South Atlantic, and a group of scientists are planning the defence.

A team from science and agriculture organization CABI has been appointed to evaluate the potential for using biological control to manage the numerous invasive alien plant and invertebrate species that threaten the biodiversity of all South Atlantic UK Overseas Territories.

These alien species, that include Calafete and the European earwig, have been brought to the islands over the years (by accident or design), but without the natural enemies that normally keep them in check in their native ranges. As a result, they have run riot, upsetting the biodiversity of the islands and jeopardizing many rare, endangered, and iconic native species.

Biological control is a method of managing invasive species by identifying and introducing to their new locations some of their natural enemies. It requires careful research and testing to ensure that the natural enemies are ‘specialists’ and will not affect native plants or animals. However, it has been used with great success in many countries throughout the world – including on islands.

“Our first task will be to identify and rank the...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4466

CAB Thesaurus gets biggest update in 30 years

Press release, 3 August 2011

The CAB Thesaurus, the world’s most comprehensive controlled vocabulary covering applied life sciences and related subject areas, has had its biggest update in 30 years. In just one year the thesaurus has grown by 40% and now includes nearly 137,000 terms.

Containing the scientific names and synonyms for pest- and disease-causing organisms, birds, mammals, insects and other species and detailing the relationships between them, the thesaurus plays a vital role in ensuring the quality and consistency of all content produced by the applied life sciences publisher, CABI. It is also licensed by CABI to a wide variety of other organizations to categorize and index their own content.

Additions to the new edition include:
• 10,000 nematode species mentioned in CABI online databases (http://www.cabdirect.org/)
• World lists of birds, mammals, sucking lice (Anoplura) and trichodectid chewing lice (Mallophaga), with synonyms
• Complete revisions to the existing taxonomic hierarchies in the thesaurus of dinoflagellates and algae
• 7275 new insect species from the Medani database, which contains species of veterinary and medical im...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4450

New global plant health resource to improve food security

Press release, 26 July 2011

From the devastating Coffee Wilt Disease to the infectious Wheat Stripe Rust: for the first time ever, distribution maps, diagnostic support and treatment advice for thousands of the world’s most damaging pests and diseases of plants and crops are being made available free of charge on the new Plantwise website, www.plantwise.org, launched today.

The Plantwise website contains a fully working prototype of the world’s only global “knowledge bank” of information about plant health. Users will be able to find out more about the Plantwise network of plant clinics and the farmers they are helping, use the online diagnostic support tool, and view distribution maps of more than 2500 pests and diseases. 

The website is part of a major programme led by science-based development organization CABI to improve food security and the lives of the rural poor by linking scientific research about plant health directly with farmers in the field. The aim is to deliver actionable knowledge that will enable farmers to reduce their losses and increase their yields. Plantwise has already received funding of $11 million from the UK and Swiss governments and is accelerating the establishment of networks of plant clinics, which are the mea...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4397

CABI helps South Pacific islands to improve cocoa production

News story, 11 July 2011

Smallholder farmers in the South Pacific islands are getting help to manage cocoa diseases and pests, and thus to increase cocoa yield and quality, thanks to a project run by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization in partnership with CABI.
 
A decade of low world cocoa prices has not provided an incentive for farmers in the South Pacific Islands to maintain their cocoa trees; this has resulted in a decline in cocoa production. But now market prices are rising and are foreseen to continue increasing during the next decade. The time is right to revitalize the cocoa industry in this region, and particularly to learn to manage cocoa diseases and pests. Currently, Black Pod (Phytophthora palmivora) disease and damage by rats are a significant constraint to increasing production.

The project began in early 2011 when CABI and partners visited two cocoa-producing islands in Vanuatu to work closely with 10 farmer networks. A survey of current farming practices and levels of damage were assessed and appropriate practical management solutions were devised.  

During a 12-month trial period, selected farmers will assess the effectiveness of solutions involving removing dis...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4383

Knowledge will be the key to a truly green revolution, says CABI

Press release, 7 July 2011

“New research and technology are always welcome, but the real key to achieving a ‘truly green revolution’ will be getting actionable knowledge delivered directly into the hands of smallholder farmers,” said Dr Rob Reeder, from the Plantwise initiative at not-for-profit science organization CABI.

Commenting on the U.N.’s latest World Economic and Social Survey, launched in Geneva on Tuesday, Dr Reeder said, “We completely endorse the U.N.’s call to boost small-scale agriculture in developing countries in order to improve food security. But I would urge governments and donors not to get carried away by the talk of ‘new green farming’ and ‘green technology’ and divert all their efforts and funds into new research and infrastructure. As the U. N. report acknowledges, a huge amount of excellent research and information already exists that, if we can just get it to farmers at the right time and in the right form, can have an immediate positive impact.

With the right advice, said Dr Reeder, farmers can make better use of the water they have; they can select appropriate crop varieties with improved pest and disease resistance; they use fewer chemicals because they apply the right pesticides at the right time...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4281

Continued testing of Japanese knotweed bug in England and Wales

Press release, 13 June 2011
 

The next stage of the controlled country-wide release of the psyllid Aphalara itadori, part of the scientific research project looking at biological control of the damaging invasive weed Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica, has been completed.

Acting under licences granted by the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera) in respect to England, and the Welsh Government in respect to Wales, not-for-profit science organization CABI has released the psyllid on behalf of the project board at a small number of carefully selected sites containing Japanese knotweed in England and Wales. These sites, together with a number of control sites on which the psyllid has not been released, will be closely monitored for five years.

This wider scale release follows years of rigorous testing in laboratories and has only been agreed thanks to good evidence of safety in open-field and field-cage studies last year.

The psyllid was identified by CABI as suitable for use as a biological control agent for Japanese knotweed. In its native Japan, Japanese knotweed presents few or no problems because natural controls have evolved to co-exist with it and provide a natural brake on its spread. Because it was introduced to Britain as an ornamental pl...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=4180

Free crop clinics to help farmers care for plant health

Press release, 21 March 2011

Farmers throughout Sri Lanka will soon find it easier to keep their crops healthy thanks to a new network of free “Crop Clinics” being launched by the national Department of Agriculture (DOA), the Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDOA) and the Agrarian Service Department (ASD), with support from the international not-for-profit organization CABI (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International).

Already there are 104 Plant Doctors in Sri Lanka, working in 26 teams (known as Permanent Crop Clinic Committees or PCCCs) in the districts of Hambantota and Kandy. In 2011 the programme will be extended to Matara, Badulla, Trincomalle, Mannar and Vauniya Districts; by the end of the year there will be 48 PCCCs and 192 Plant Doctors.

The crop clinics follow the model already established by CABI in other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The clinics advise farmers on pests and diseases in the way a health centre does for humans. They are run by local technical people, who visit markets and small towns every week. Farmers drop by with samples of diseased plants, to get the problem identified and to learn what to do about it. Studies of clinics in Bangladesh and Bolivia have shown that, as a result of the clinics, farmers have increased crop yields and sp...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=3833

New plant health workers to advise farmers on plant pests and diseases

Press release, 12 January 2011

Nearly 1000 farmers in Karnataka are set to be trained as ‘Plant Doctors’ in a major programme funded by the Karnataka State Department of Agriculture and Bio-Control Research Laboratories (BCRL), part of Pest Control India Ltd. (PCI), and supported by the international not-for-profit organization CABI (Centre for Agricultural Bioscience International). By the end of March 2011 there will be enough trained Plant Health Workers to run 72 independent, community-based plant health clinics throughout the state.

The plant health clinics will follow the model already established by CABI in other countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The clinics advise farmers on pests and diseases in the way a health centre does for humans. They are run by local technical people, who visit markets and small towns every week. Farmers drop by with samples of diseased plants, to get the problem identified and to learn what to do about it. Studies of clinics in Bangladesh and Bolivia have shown that, as a result of the clinics, farmers have increased crop yields and spent less money on expensive pesticides, increasing their average household income. 

The Department of Agriculture, Government of Karnataka, and BCRL-PCI are funding the establishment of the plant clinics in order to e...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=3826

Delivering tangible benefits through better use of knowledge

News story, January 2011
 

From trebled vaccination rates against East Coast fever in Lugoba cattle to improved forecasting and diagnoses of poultry diseases in Rufiji, a programme to train extension workers in Tanzania in using CABI’s Animal Health and Production Compendium (AHPC) has resulted in significant reported changes and improvements to working practices among livestock farmers in the country.

In a paper presented at the IAALD XIIIth World Congress, Scientific and Technical Information and Rural Development, in Montpellier, April 2010, and published in Agricultural Information Worldwide, CABI authors Jane Frances Asaba, Gareth Ronald Richards, Dannie Romney, and Ericah Nkonoki show how training farmers and support workers in using the multimedia AHPC improved decision-making, raised the quality of research papers and proposals, and helped create new relationships through farmer field schools.

The paper, Incorporating Use of a Mixed-media Information Tool Into the Work of Actors Involved in the Development of Livestock ...]]> http://www.cabi.org/?site=170&page=3966

Australian honour for CABI author