News for 2018

Exploring Fleming's Penicillium and the potential of microorganisms

19 June 2018 - On this day in 1906 the biochemist and Nobel laureate Ernst Chain, best known for his work in the synthetic production of penicillin, was born. To mark his birthday, and to highlight a fascinating exhibition on 'Superbugs', the Science Museum has today published a blog and video where CABI's Genetic Resource Collection Curator Dr Matthew Ryan explores Fleming's Penicillium and the potential of microorganisms. Filmed within CABI's National Culture Collection, Dr Ryan reveals that ...

New book launched at CABI symposium on tourism and animal welfare

14 June 2018 - A new book published by CABI – looking at the meaning of ‘animal welfare’ and its role in tourism, in relation to ethics, animal rights, and human obligations to animals,  – has been launched, with the authors Neil Carr and Donald Broom at this year’s CABI symposium on tourism and animal welfare. Donald Broom also took the opportunity to speak about ‘Sentience, Welfare, Ethics and Human Entertainment’ as one of seven speakers at the event held at London South Bank University (Wed...

CABI highlights importance of ICT in agriculture at First East Africa Digital Farmers Conference & Exhibition

5 June 2018 - CABI scientists and staff have been highlighting the important role technology can play in helping to secure global food security by sharing their expertise at the First East Africa Digital Farmers Conference & Exhibition in Nairobi, Kenya. As the world is faced with the challenge of feeding an estimated nine billion people by 2050, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) states that a 70 percent increase in food production will be required to meet th...

A night at the movies: with soybean and Fall armyworm as stars of the show

4 June 2018 - Farmers in northern Ghana are beginning to get a taste of the latest movie out of the Box Office – it’s not a romantic comedy or a thriller – instead it’s a production that will help them get more from their soybean crops and protect their maize from the Fall armyworm caterpillar. Tamsin Davis, the CABI communications specialist who produced the armyworm films being screened explained the role of film in supporting agricultural extension efforts: “Films let farmers see with their ...

Peruvian university taps into world-leading database of applied life sciences

4 June 2018 - The Universidad Científica del Sur in Peru has become the latest university to subscribe to CAB Abstracts – a world-leading database of more than 9 million records of applied life sciences including agriculture, environment, leisure/tourism, veterinary sciences, food science and nutrition. CAB Abstracts is the leading English-language bibliographic information service providing access to the world’s applied life sciences literature. It includes CABI Full Text, giving users automat...

CABI shares its expertise on biological control at international congress in Beijing, China

17 May 2018 - CABI scientists have shared their expertise on biological control methods to tackle a range of agricultural pests and diseases that threaten global food security at the First International Congress of Biological Control held in Beijing, China. The three-day event, which ran from 14 to 16 May 2018, was sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), the International Organization for Biological Control (IOBC) and the China Society of Plant Protection (CSPP), and b...

CABI donates books to prize-winning students at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

16 May 2018 - CABI has donated copies of the appropriately titled ‘Animal Welfare’ to students at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies who were tasked with designing a poster to promote key themes relating to animal welfare. Copies of the CABI-published book, edited by Professor Michael Appleby of the University of Edinburgh of which The Royal (Dick) School is affiliated, were sent to Dr Andrew Gardiner, Senior Lecturer and EMS Director, to present to the winning group of students. Ta...

Project launched to strengthen vegetable value chains in Pakistan

16 May 2018 - CABI has launched a project to strengthen the value chains of four vegetables in Pakistan – thereby helping to boost the household incomes and livelihoods of thousands of smallholder farmers and their families. The project, which is funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), will not only look to help farmers produce healthy and profitable onion, potato, tomato and chili crops but will also primarily enhance the socioeconomic conditions of rur...

CABI promotes closer partnership with Southeast Asia at ASEAN London Committee

14 May 2018 - A delegation of representatives from CABI have promoted plans for closer partnership with countries in Southeast Asia as part of their presentation at the 2nd Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) London Committee  meeting in 2018 held on Tuesday 9 May 2018. Representing CABI, Dr Qiaoqiao Zhang, Director of Memberships, and Phil Abrahams, Director of Strategic Business Development, were invited to the meeting by the current Chair of the ASEAN London Committee (ALC), His E...

CABI signs MoU with Agricultural Department Gilgit Baltistan to launch Plantwise program

9 May 2018 - CABI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Agriculture Department Gilgit Baltistan in Pakistan to launch the Plantwise program in order to provide research-based advisory services to farmers. Plantwise is a global programme led by CABI, which works to help farmers lose less of what they grow to plant health problems. Working closely with national agricultural advisory services it establishes and supports sustainable networks of plant clinics, run by trained plant doct...

Multi-media campaign helps improve food security in Tanzania

8 May 2018 - A multi-media campaign has helped CABI and partner agencies in Tanzania improve food security in Tanzania by encouraging thousands of farmers to adopt improved legume technologies including ways to produce healthier and more profitable crops of common bean and soybean. The CABI-led project, funded by the International Development Research Centre, reached more than 600,000 farming family members during a 28-month campaign that included radio programmes, comics, social media, and tex...

CABI helps train agricultural scientists of tomorrow as part of six-day course in Hungary

4 May 2018 - CABI has helped train the agricultural scientists of tomorrow by holding a course for MSc students and young researchers keen on learning more about research methodologies in agriculture, including plant protection, at the Szent Istvan University of Gödöllő in Hungary. Dr Stefan Toepfer, Research Scientist Arthropod Biological Control and Integrated Crop Management Advisor at CABI, helped enable 58 students – studying for an MSc in Plant Protection – learn more about study design, ...

CABI helps Pakistan’s cotton industry to reduce losses of around $350m a year

3 May 2018 - CABI is helping Pakistan’s cotton industry to reduce losses of around $350m a year through poor production, transport and storage practices by training thousands of farmers and workers as part of the Better Cotton Initiative. Cotton is Pakistan’s largest industrial sector and has played an important role in the economic development of the country and remains a key livelihood source for more than one million farmers. However, the misuse of pesticides and water, the inappropriate us...

Workshop explores structure and tree-damaging termites in the tropics

2 May 2018 - CABI scientists have held a successful three-day workshop exploring how to diagnose and manage termites associated with structures and trees in the tropics. The workshop, held at CABI’s South East Asia (SEA) office building at MARDI in Serdang, Malaysia, highlighted termites as ecologically important insects with significant roles to play as decomposers but also as pests that can cause major damage to trees and buildings. Dr Sivapragasam Annamalai, Regional Director of CABI SEA, o...

PhD student joins the fight against devastating Fall Armyworm pest

25 April 2018 - A new PhD student has joined the fight against the devastating Fall Armyworm pest. CABI predicts feeding damage by the caterpillars of this invasive alien insect will cost ten of Africa’s major maize producing economies $2.2bn to $5.5bn a year in lost maize harvests if it is not properly managed. CABI scientist Dr Stefan Toepfer, an expert in nematode-based biocontrol product development, is co-supervising Patrick Fallet who is studying novel ways of encapsulating and applying e...

Biological control specialist celebrates half a century in science at CABI

24 April 2018 - In the year that Riaz Mahmood started work as a biological control scientist at CABI in 1968, Apollo 8 was launched to begin the first US mission to orbit the Moon. Now in 2018, Mr Mahmood, a Senior Biological Control Specialist at CABI’s Centre for Central and West Asia (CWA) based in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, is celebrating half a century of loyal service. Mr Mahmood, a member of the Pakistan Society of Sugar Technologists and the Pakistan Entomological Society, was presented wit...

CABI signs MoU with Asian and Pacific Coconut Community

20 April 2018 - CABI has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Asian and Pacific Coconut Community (APCC) to share its scientific expertise in pest and disease control and management as part of the APCC’s work to coordinate and harmonise all activities of the coconut industry in the Asia and Pacific regions. The agreement to engage in technical cooperation was signed at CABI’s Malaysia office by CABI’s CEO Dr Trevor Nicholls and Mr Uron N. Salum, Executive Director of the Asian an...

CABI shares its expertise at the International Master Class in Plant Biosecurity in Indonesia

19 April 2018 - CABI has shared its expertise in biosecurity and its links to food security, trade and market access at the International Master Class (IMC) in Plant Biosecurity held in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Muhammad Faheem, Integrated Crop Management Advisor based at CABI’s Malaysia office, delivered a one-day course at the event where the Bilateral Plant Biosecurity Initiative (BPBI) between Indonesia and Australia pointed out the need for greater training and awareness of the national, ...

10th Steering Committee of China-CABI Joint Laboratory addresses green technology in agriculture

11 April 2018 – The 10th annual Steering Committee (SC) meeting of the Joint Laboratory for Bio-Safety of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) and CABI has highlighted a broad commitment to environmentally-friendly technology in agriculture. The meeting, held at the Lvfulong Organic Farm in Yanqing, Beijing, China on 29 March, was the opportunity for officials and scientists from CABI and MARA to review the Joint Laboratory’s achievements and progress made in 2017 as wel...

Students learn Integrated Pest Management techniques in Beijing

10 April 2018 - CABI has held a five-day course on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to train post graduate students and young researchers on a range of pest management techniques including how to keep pests, diseases and weeds below levels that cause economic damage. The course, which was held at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science (CAAS) in Beijing, China, was delivered by CABI’s IPM expert Dr Stefan Toepfer who is a visiting professor at the Institute of Plant P...

CABI to appoint former CEO of Taylor & Francis Group as Chair of the Board

9 April 2018 - Roger Horton, former CEO of the Taylor & Francis Group – one of the world’s largest academic publishers, is to be appointed as the new Chair of the Board at CABI at its meeting in June 2018. He will succeed Philip Walters MBE who is retiring from the Board having been a non-executive director of CABI for seven years, the last three as Chair. Mr Horton has served as a member of the CABI Board since July 2017 and brings a wealth of experience to the position including 14 years ...

CABI joins Koppert to reduce the reliance on chemical use in pest management in Kenya

29 March 2018 - CABI has initiated activities with Koppert Biological Systems to increase the fight against crop pests and diseases which threaten the food security and livelihoods of thousands of farmers and their families in Kenya. CABI has signed a collaboration agreement with Koppert to deliver more Plantwise plant doctor training in Kenya, with funding from the Koppert Foundation. This includes plans to further raise the awareness and promotion of biocontrol methods as part of integrated p...

New $400,000 Fall Armyworm Tech Prize launches

28 March 2018 - A new $400,000 African Food Security Prize to help find the latest technology to combat the devastating impacts of the fall armyworm, which attacks over 80 different plant species, has today launched. CABI will form part of the judging panel for the Fall Armyworm Tech Prize – which is being spearheaded by Feed the Future with financial support from Land O’Lakes International Development and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research – and will test the winning entries befo...

SciDev.Net scoops honour for highlighting neglected tropical diseases

28 March 2018 - SciDev.Net has picked up a prestigious award from the International Society for Neglected Tropical Diseases (ISNTD) for numerous articles raising the awareness of a range of global health issues including malaria and elephantiasis. Anita Makri, a freelance editorial consultant at SciDev.Net - the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis about science and technology for global development, received the ISNTD Award for Written Work on behalf of...

Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann unveils Biopesticides Portal prototype at Biocontrol Africa conference

21 March 2018 – Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, CABI’s Executive Director Global Operations, has unveiled a prototype Biopesticides Portal that facilitates the identification, sourcing and application of more environmentally-friendly, cost-effective and sustainable biological control products in the global fights against agricultural pests and diseases. The CABI-led project was highlighted this week (20 March 2018) at the Biocontrol Africa conference in Nairobi, Kenya, as part of a presentation co-authored...

CABI joins international team of experts to develop a Global Surveillance System for crop diseases

20 March 2018 - CABI has joined an international team of experts in the field of agricultural science to develop a framework for Global Surveillance System (GSS) for crop diseases that could help ensure greater food security around the world. Dr Roger Day, Programme Executive for the recently launched UK Aid and DGIS funded Action on Invasives programme led by CABI, was one many scientists representing more than 15 international research and governmental organisations concerned with reducing th...

New cohort of students welcomed onto MAS in ICM course

12 March 2018 - Twelve new students are embarking on their Masters of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Integrated Crop Management (ICM) after attending a welcome ceremony in Delémont, the capital of the Swiss Canton of Jura. The course, which is coordinated by CABI and University of Neuchâtel, is being run for the fourth time and enables professionals in the field of agriculture and environment management to build upon their Master’s or Bachelor’s degree with practical experience in areas such as agri...

Initiative to bolster Pakistani agricultural exports goes global

12 March 2018 - An online sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) distance learning course, in which CABI has played a key role, is now globally available in English, Spanish and French through the Agrilinks website. The Food Safety Network (FSN) recently released the first three of 14 SPS online training courses on plant pest surveillance, plant pest identification systems, and plant pest inspections which were originally available in English and Urdu and launched in a project created to help bolster...

CABI projects feature in new STDF book 'Driving Safe Trade Solutions Worldwide'

8 March 2018 - Three CABI projects feature in a new Standards and Trade Development Facility (STDF) book ‘Driving Safe Trade Solutions Worldwide’ which demonstrate how small-scale farmers, processors, traders and governments are being supported to access global markets. Of the 25 stories highlighted in the book, which was recently launched at STDF’s Policy Committee, the following CABI projects (part-funded by STDF) demonstrate impact across Asia and Africa: Driving knowledge on food safety ...

CABI trials PEAT's smartphone app Plantix that identifies plant pests in the field

8 March 2018 - CABI, through its Plantwise programme, is partnering with PEAT (Progressive Environmental & Agricultural Technologies) to conduct an 18-month pilot study to assess the benefits of a smartphone app called Plantix. The app gives extension workers and farmers an improved ability to identify economically-important insect pests, diseases and nutrient deficiencies and manage them in order to safeguard crops and livelihoods. Plantwise is a global programme led by CABI which works to...

CABI leads project to improve biosecurity in islands of the South Atlantic

7 March 2018 - CABI scientists will lead a two-year project to improve the biosecurity of a range of islands in the South Atlantic working closely with the UK Overseas Territories of St Helena and the Falkland Islands. The team, led by Dr Norbert Maczey, will in particular focus on the improvement of Pest Risk Assessment (PRA) procedures including the utilisation of a new Horizon Scanning Tool linked to CABI’s Crop Protection Compendium and Invasive Species Compendium. The £144,000 Darwin Plus...

Plans for strategic action to tackle invasive species in Africa advance

6 March 2018 - Plans towards developing a comprehensive strategy that will enable Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) to deal more proactively and effectively with invasive species have advanced significantly. This milestone has been achieved through a recently concluded workshop co-organised by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and CABI, with support from the Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC). According to the ...

CABI launches invasive species Horizon Scanning Tool

6 March 2018 - CABI has announced the launch of its invasive species Horizon Scanning Tool (beta), a decision support aid to help users identify potential invasive species threats to a country, state or province. The tool is supported by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). Gareth Richards, CABI’s Compendium Programme Manager, said, “Risk assessors, plant protection officers, quarantine officers, protected area managers and research...

CABI leads fight against fruit and nut pest

28 February 2018 - CABI’s expertise in scientific research and development is helping to lead the fight against a global pest which has already caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to hazelnut crops in Georgia and apple production in north eastern regions of the USA. Dr Tim Haye, Head of Arthropod Biological Control at CABI, is leading a project in China – sponsored by Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada – to determine whether a natural solution can be found to control devastating impacts...

SciDev.Net honoured by Egyptian Government

20 February 2018 - SciDev.Net – the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis about science and technology for global development – has been honoured by the Egyptian Government for helping to found and support Egyptian Science Week. The Middle East & North Africa (MENA) edition of SciDev.Net received the award from the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology as part of an event at Nile University, October City in Egypt, which launched Egypt...

CABI partners with ISEAL IPM Coalition to support farmers with pest and disease management

19 February 2018 - CABI has joined forces with the ISEAL Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coalition in the fight to implement better, less chemical-dependent, ways for farmers to manage agricultural pests and diseases that account for around 40% of lost crops worldwide. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between both organizations. The IPM Integrated Pest Management Coalition is composed by ISEAL Alliance members: Better Cotton Initiative, Bonsucro, Fairtrade International, For...

Management of invasive plants could prevent spread of deadly malaria, scientists suggest

16 February 2018 - CABI scientists have joined an international team of experts who suggest that the large-scale management of a range of some invasive plants could hold the key to reducing the spread of deadly malaria. Dr Arne Witt and Dr Sean Murphy worked with scientists from the University of Illinois, The Ohio State University and the Fundación para el Estudio de Especies Invasivas (FuEDEI) in Argentina, to conduct a review of existing studies which looked at how mosquitoes are attracted t...

Global fight against invasive species tops agenda at CABI's 398th Executive Council Meeting

8 February 2018 - The fight against a myriad of invasive species, which costs the global economy around US$1.4 trillion each year, was top of the agenda at CABI’s 398th Executive Council meeting held yesterday (7 February 2018) at the Hallam Conference Centre in London. CABI CEO Dr Trevor Nicholls told the delegates, representing 36 CABI Member Countries, Board Members and CABI staff, that the organisation’s Action on Invasives programme is now in full flight and that the UK Department for Inte...

CABI strengthens collaborations with the International Tropical Fruits Network

29 January 2018 - CABI is strengthening its working relationship with the International Tropical Fruits Network (TFNet) with plans to further collaborate on projects related to the management of pests and diseases. CABI has been an Associate Member of TFNet since 2001 and previous collaborative work saw the development of the Malaysian Tropical Fruit Information System (MTFIS). It was recently agreed at a meeting at TFNet’s headquarters in Serdang, Malaysia, that the two organisations will: ...

China workshop raises awareness of Plantwise plant doctor programme

26 January 2018 - A workshop has been held at the Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU) in Hangzhou, Eastern China, to raise awareness of the Plantwise plant doctor programme which trains extension workers to diagnose and help farmers manage a range of crop pests and diseases. The meeting was primarily aimed at raising awareness among university students, private businesses and plant protection experts for participation in a plant doctor training and its certificate - presented to...

CABI receives JRS grant to publish dataset on invasive alien plants in Sub-Saharan Africa

25 January 2018 - CABI has received a grant of $45,750 from the JRS Biodiversity Foundation to publish one of the most complete and current datasets on Invasive Alien Plants (IAP) in Eastern Africa. The project, which is led by Dr Arne Witt, Coordinator: Invasive Species, CABI, will build upon the successful results from a previously awarded JRS grant. East Africa’s biodiversity is under threat from the spread of Invasive Alien Plants (IAP), which can have a dramatic impact on biodiversity, cro...

CABI briefs parliamentary group on invasive species and their impact on the SDGs

25 January 2018 - In a briefing to the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Agriculture and Food for Development this week (23 January 2018), CABI highlighted the threat Fall Armyworm and other global invasive species pose towards achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). CABI’s CEO, Dr Trevor Nicholls, and Knowledge Bank Coordinator, East Africa, Dr MaryLucy Oronje, updated the meeting chaired by Lord Cameron of Dillington on the challenges presented by invasive species aroun...

CABI to improve the farming for 50 million poor households by tackling invasive species

22 January 2018 - Millions of the world's most vulnerable people face problems with invasive weeds, insects and plant diseases , which are out of control and have a major impact on global prosperity, communities and the environment. Developing countries are disproportionately affected. The global cost of the world’s 1.2 million invasive species is estimated at $1.4 trillion per year – close to 5 percent of global gross domestic product. In East Africa, five major invasive species alone cause $1 ...

Vegetable exports from Ghana resume after work to improve phytosanitary system

15 January 2018 - CABI’s work in partnership to improve Ghana’s phytosanitary systems means vegetable exports worth $15 million a year are continuing once again after the lifting of a Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety of the European Commission ban imposed in 2015. The lifting of the suspension, imposed due to concerns about the management of four quarantine pests including false codling moth, whitefly, thrips and fruit fly, means Ghana is exporting chili peppers, bottle gourds, lu...

CAB Direct wins CHOICE magazine ‘Outstanding Academic Title’ award 2017

3 January 2018 - The CAB Direct platform, which provides a single point of access to all of CABI’s databases, was rated as “highly recommended” for undergraduates, researchers, faculty members, technical programme students, professionals and practitioners in the March 2017 issue of CHOICE magazine. We are proud to announce that the platform has now won a CHOICE magazine ‘Outstanding Academic Title’ award 2017. CABI’s databases include CAB Abstracts (the leading English bibliographic information...