Genetic resources for food and agriculture come under the microscope at FAO event

David Smith in lab cropped
CABI has shared its expertise by contributing to a virtual workshop on the role of Digital Sequence Information (DSI) for the conservation and sustainable use of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GRFA). Such DSI includes that pertaining to animal, forest, insect, microbial and plant genetic resources. Top crops, studied…
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Weevil may save Great Britain up to £16.8m a year in management of invasive aquatic fern

Azolla filiculoides showing signs of biocontrol impact
A new CABI-led study suggests that a tiny weevil (Stenopelmus rufinasus) has huge benefits in saving Great Britain up to £16.8m in annual management costs of the invasive aquatic fern Azolla filiculoides. The research, published in the CABI Agriculture and Bioscience journal, estimates that without any biocontrol the expected yearly…
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CABI BioProtection Portal reaches one million milestone

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The CABI BioProtection Portal has reached a landmark after recording one million visits to the resource. Since its launch in 2020, more and more growers and plant health advisors have benefited from the portal. This online and free access digital tool contains information about biocontrol and biopesticide products to fight…
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Data summit features CABI/ODI ground-breaking work to improve food security

Farmer in field
CABI’s approach to increasing data access was featured at the ODI Summit 2022: Data Decade; an event which set out to address the data challenges in the years ahead. Dr Negussie Efa Gurmessa from CABI spoke about how the Open Data Institute’s (ODI) Data Spectrum was applied in the agriculture…
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New Yunnan-CABI Laboratory to help ensure greater food security in Southwest China

Yunnan-CABI Lab opening pix
Yunnan Agricultural University (YAU) and CABI have agreed to establish the Yunnan-CABI Joint Laboratory for Integrated Prevention and Control of Trans-boundary Pests to help ensure greater food security in Southwest China. The new facility, which will also make enhanced contributions to biosecurity and ecological development in the region, has been…
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CABI joins discussion on climate and agrifood systems at flagship World Food Forum event

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CABI joined a discussion on climate action and agrifood systems at a flagship event of the World Food Forum held recently at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy. Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, CABI’s Executive Director, Global Operations, took part in a…
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Seed systems in focus at FAO conference

AIV seed. Project sponsored by IrishAid
Seed systems have come under sharp focus at the first ever Global Conference on Sustainable Plant Production (GPC) organised by the Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. The three-day GPC – with the theme of Innovation, Efficiency and Resilience – provided a forum for FAO members, farmers,…
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CABI-led study provides comprehensive review of devastating fall armyworm pest

Spodoptera frugiperda larva (fall armyworm) on Maize
A CABI-led study involving 57 scientists from 46 different institutions has provided a comprehensive review of the devastating fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) including details on its invasiveness, biology, ecology and management. The research, published in the journal Entomologia Generalis, highlights how fall armyworm (FAW) is serious pest of several crops…
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SciDev.Net special report investigates global food crisis

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A special report from SciDev.Net suggests that global starvation is looming for millions as food prices spiral out of control. Fiona Broom, Deputy Editor, Features, looks at how food systems can become more resilient to shocks – such as conflict, climate change and COVID-19 – as the world faces its…
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New web app connects journalists and scientists

Script connect app
A new web app has been launched to make it super easy for journalists in Kenya and Uganda to find researchers for science stories. The Script Connect app is part of the Script science communication programme by SciDev.Net, funded by the Robert Bosch Foundation. It works like a ‘speed-dating’ app,…
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