CABI welcomes Ethiopia as its 50th member country
CABI has welcomed Ethiopia as its 50th member country where it will enjoy a range of benefits including input into CABI’s global development agenda, links to its international network of partners as well as regular consultations to address members’ needs. Dr Trevor Nicholls, CEO of CABI, confirmed signature of the…
New monitoring and reporting framework aims to better protect World Heritage Sites from invasive alien species
A team of international scientists have devised a new monitoring and reporting framework to help protect World Heritage Sites from almost 300 different invasive alien species globally including, rats (Rattus spp.), cats (Felis catus), lantana (Lantana camara) and Argentine ants (Linepithema humile). Lead author Dr Ross Shackleton joined invasive species…
New research reveals how pesticide-free crop protection yields up to US$ 20 billion/year benefits in Asia-Pacific region
Scientists have estimated for the first time how nature-based solutions for agricultural pest control deliver US$ 14.6 to US$ 19.5 billion annually across 23 countries in the Asia-Pacific region. The new research, published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution, suggests that non-chemical crop protection (or biological control) delivers economic…
Study shows low risk of non-target attack of European plant species by hay fever-causing ragweed ‘bug’
A team of international scientists believe that the accidentally introduced leaf beetle Ophraella communa poses a low risk to native European plant species other than the invasive hay fever-causing ragweed species (like common ragweed, Ambrosia artemisiifolia) which it does attack. PhD student Benno Augustinus, who is being co-supervised by CABI’s…
New SciDev.Net Plus service offers members exclusive benefits
SciDev.Net – the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis about science and technology for global development – is launching a new service offering members a range of exclusive benefits. Subscribers to SciDev.Net Plus will receive exclusive access to a monthly conference call with SciDev.Net’s coordinators…
Climate change risks highlighted as Bangladesh prepares to repel possible locust invasion
‘Aberrant and erratic climatic behaviour triggered by global warming’ has been highlighted as the cause of the ‘rapid and sudden upsurge’ of locusts unleashing destruction around the world as Bangladesh prepares to repel a possible invasion. Dr Malvika Chaudhary, Asia Regional Coordinator for the CABI-led Plantwise programme, is lead author…
CABI shares expertise on papaya mealybug in new technical brief addressing management of the pest in Kenya
CABI scientists have shared their expertise on the papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) as part of a new multiagency technical brief addressing the description, identification and sustainable management of the pest in Kenya. The brief, which contains the latest agreed advice for papaya mealybug management, will be used to support the…
Landmark paper calls for the need to develop the world’s microbiome biobanking infrastructure
A team of scientists, led by CABI’s Dr Matthew Ryan, have outlined a series of challenges and opportunities presented in a necessary review of how microbiomes – biological communities including bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, protists and viruses – can be ‘banked’ and preserved for generations to come. The researchers, who…
CABI and ASARECA sign MoU to strengthen agricultural research for development
The Association for Strengthening Agricultural Research in Eastern and Central Africa (ASARECA) and CABI have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that will enable both organisations to jointly work towards promoting their shared objectives and areas of strategic focus in Eastern and Central Africa. The signed MoU formalises and strengthens…
New study sheds light on unlocking the potential of young people in Nigeria’s Agribusiness
The findings from the study reveal results based on age, education, gender; citing these as baseline reasons for lack of uptake of the training provided by the N-Power Agro Program. However, more than half of the study participants received employment or business opportunities which suggests that the N-Power Agro Program…