More than 80 of the world’s leading experts on maize pests have shared the latest research findings on sustainable pest management at the 29th International Working Group of Ostrinia and other maize pests (IWGO) Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), and the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC) – the parent organization of IWGO – co-hosted the conference. MARDI also hosts and supports CABI’s centre in Malaysia, , and Malaysia is a Member Country of CABI.
Scientists from 15 countries, including Australia, Canada, China, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, the USA, Kenya, Botswana, South Africa, Zambia, and some countries in Europe, came together for a scientific knowledge exchange at the MARDI Auditorium on their headquarters in Serdang.
The scientific programme spanned much of the current research on maize insect pests worldwide. Eight thematic sessions covered advances in Bt resistance monitoring and management, breeding and host-plant resistance, integrated pest management (IPM) for piercing-sucking insects, biological control innovations, and sustainable approaches for fall armyworm control in both smallholder and large-scale systems.
Scientists, which included those from CABI’s centres in China, Switzerland, Zambia and Malaysia, presented on a range of topics from mechanistic studies (analysing the cause-and-effect relationships) on insect resistance and behavioural regulation to applied work on UAV-based natural-enemy releases, farmer-centred IPM packages, and radar-based migratory insect surveillance.
Across three days, around 60 oral presentations were delivered, complemented by nine posters featuring work on cross-resistance, improved monitoring tools, native biocontrol agents, entomopathogenic microbes, and professional training in plant health. Together, the programme reflected a collaborative community tackling maize pest challenges with both scientific rigor and practical innovation.
The conference was convened by Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, Executive Director, Global Operations at CABI, and co-convened by Dr Dominic Reisig from North Carolina State University, USA, and Dr Feng Zhang, Regional Director, East & South-East Asia, and CABI Representative of the MARA China-CABI Joint Laboratory in Beijing, China.
MARDI contributes to global agricultural knowledge
The opening ceremony was officiated by Dato’ Dr Haji Mohamad Zabawi bin Abdul Ghani, Director General of MARDI, who said, “MARDI contributes to global agricultural knowledge through publications, conferences, and collaborations with leading research institutes and universities worldwide. Its close collaboration with IOBC Global, IWGO and CABI is a good example of international partnership in addressing invasive species through science, advancing agricultural research, and ensuring food security.”
DG of MARDI with CABI senior directors at the 29th Conference of IOBC Conference.
How science can help protect maize
The IWGO is the oldest global working group of IOBC which has been meeting since 1968 to see how science can help protect maize. Maize is a globally important crop that remains crucial in 2025 for food, animal feed, and increasingly industrial uses like biofuels. Its importance is underscored by its role providing at least 30% of the food calories to over 4.5 billion people in 94 low and lower middle-income countries.
Dr Kuhlmann said, “The IOBC-Global – IWGO Conference has opened new avenues for MARDI scientists to engage and collaborate with leading maize insect pest experts from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. The IWGO platform continues to play a vital role in fostering global partnerships and facilitating the exchange of ideas and experiences that advance sustainable agricultural practices worldwide. Many of the most serious maize pests are invasive alien insect species. Therefore, strong trans-regional and global collaboration is needed to tackle them.”
Additional information
Main images (Photos made by MARDI): The 29th Conference of the International Working Group of Ostrinia and other maize pests (IWGO) of IOBC global in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, from 28 to 30 October 2025.
Find out more about IWGO conference from the website here: https://iwgomalaysia2025.org/en
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