CABI News

CABI has received recognition from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) for its work supporting smallholder farmers in the field of sustainable plant production and protection for greater livelihoods and food security.

The recognition of CABI’s work, which includes the sustainable management of crop pests and diseases through its PlantwisePlus programme and resources such as the CABI BioProtection Portal, came during the FAO Global Technical Recognition Ceremony at the FAO Headquarters in Rome, Italy.

As part of FAO’s 80th anniversary celebration and on the occasion of the World Food Forum, the FAO Global Technical Recognition Ceremony recognizes best practices and innovative approaches from around the world that advance global food security, sustainable development and agrifood systems transformation.

Technical leadership, collaboration, and innovation

Aligned with FAO’s four betters (better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life) and reflecting the World Food Day theme “Hand in hand for better foods and a better future,’’ these recognitions highlight technical leadership, collaboration, and innovation in the field.

CABI, as part of its submission, highlighted its expertise in plant health management including integrated pest and disease management, phytosanitary measures, and sound pesticide use and management.

Dr Janny Vos, CABI’s Partnerships Development Director who attended the recognition ceremony, said CABI’s approach to sustainable plant health management also includes regulatory and advisory services to reduce farmers’ reliance on high-risk pesticides, supporting adherence to relevant international standards.

“Through programmes like PlantwisePlus, CABI has established community-based plant clinic networks where farmers receive diagnoses and sustainable pest management advice from plant doctors. These clinics prioritize sustainable options, guiding farmers away from highly hazardous pesticides,” she said.

Nature-based solutions as sustainable alternatives

Biological control is another pillar of CABI’s work, with over 80 years’ experience and collaboration with national research institutes and regulators worldwide. CABI researches, produces, and collaborates with relevant national stakeholders to release natural enemies and promote nature-based solutions as sustainable alternatives to agrochemicals.

For example, fungal biopesticides, like Green Muscle for locust control, and tiny parasitic wasps for controlling maize and rice pests have been introduced to farming communities, reducing pest damage without toxic residues. These biological solutions are safer for people and the environment and are often more affordable in the long term, as they reduce the need for repeated chemical spraying.

Meanwhile, digital tools like the open-access CABI BioProtection Portal and PlantwisePlus Knowledge Bank provide farmers and extension officers with instant access to reliable information about safer pest control options.

Dr Vos added, “Through close partnerships with national authorities, international bodies such as the FAO and the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), our approach also reinforces phytosanitary capacity.

“Plant clinic data and farmer observations improve pest surveillance and early warning systems, supporting countries’ compliance with international plant health standards. Consequently, CABI’s integrated practices augment national plant health systems by providing stakeholders at all levels with knowledge and innovations that lead to healthier crops, reduced pesticide risks, and improved livelihoods.”

Beneficiaries of CABI’s plant health work are smallholder farmers

The primary beneficiaries of CABI’s plant health work are smallholder farmers in low- and medium-income countries, forming the backbone of agriculture but often lacking access to safe and effective pest management.

Through a wide range of activities, including Integrated Pest Management education, and classical biological control, CABI supports farmers in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean in protecting their crops sustainably.

In the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, CABI-supported IPM approaches have improved pest control across 50,000 hectares, in conjunction with national agricultural curriculum reform.

In countries such as Pakistan, Ghana, Tanzania, and Vietnam, millions of farmers have experienced significantly improved yields and incomes, reduced pesticide use, and better health outcomes.

Extension workers and governments are also key beneficiaries. Over 10,000 plant doctors and diagnostic specialists have been trained to improve pest diagnosis and advisory services.

At the institutional level, National Plant Protection Organizations (NPPOs), quarantine services, and policymakers use CABI’s tools, including the Horizon Scanning Tool, Pest Risk Analysis Tool, and CABI BioProtection Portal, to guide regulation, trade compliance, and sustainable plant health strategies.

Furthermore, CABI’s role in supporting the African Union Plant Health Strategy (2022–2036) underlines its wider contribution to building resilient phytosanitary systems aligned with international standards.

Additional information

Main image: (Credit: CABI).

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