By sharing science-based knowledge about crop health, CABI helps smallholder farmers to grow more and lose less, increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods
The challenge
With global challenges like climate change making it increasingly difficult for smallholder farmers living in poor rural communities to grow and sell food, sharing knowledge about crop health has never been more important.
The world’s 800 million smallholder farmers produce most of the world’s food, but the majority live in poor and vulnerable rural communities where they often lack access to science-based information about crop health.
Providing solutions
Working with our donors and partners, we help share knowledge about integrated crop management and plant health with smallholder farmers to help them grow more and lose less.
For example, the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme improves farmers’ yields and incomes while reducing the use of toxic pesticides. Through the programme, we also help countries improve their plant health systems, so that they can prevent and manage pest outbreaks more effectively.
We have successfully increased plant health knowledge and helped farmers across the world grow healthier crops using natural solutions such as biopesticides and biological control of crop pests, helping them to use fewer chemical pesticides and implement more agricultural best practice.
Our crop health expertise in more detail
The CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme increases food security and improves rural livelihoods by reducing crop losses. Since its launch, Plantwise has supported over 30 million smallholder farmers around the world with crop and plant health knowledge.
We work with donors and partners to deliver projects in integrated crop management (ICM), combining a variety of practices in, for example, pest and soil health management, helping farmers to grow better crops.
Access to healthy seeds and soil is essential for smallholder farmers in developing countries. We help make high-quality seeds available and share information about organic fertilisers and good soil health practices or Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM).
Key contact
For more information and enquiries about our expertise in crop health, please get in touch.
Ulrich Kuhlmann
Executive Director, Global Operations
T: +41 (0) 32 4214882 E: u.kuhlmann@cabi.org
Stories of impact
Read about the variety of work CABI delivers, and the difference we make
Related Projects
Explore our recent projects from around the world
Harnessing nature’s microbes: sustainable agricultural solutions for sub-Saharan Africa
Agriculture is a vital sector in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). It contributes an average of 25% to the gross domestic product and provides sustenance for nearly 80% of the rural population. However, the region remains the most food insecure globally. Increasing agricultural productivity is the primary objective for SSA, but this goal is partly hindered by low crop yields caused by pests and declining soil productivity. Although several solutions are available, many prove ineffective against various challenges, particularly soil ones. They also pose many difficulties regarding their impact – biodiversity loss, food safety and soil productivity – all stemming from excessive use and unregulated application. These challenges can be addressed by developing low-risk and alternative products based on nature-based solutions that utilize beneficial soil microorganisms. CABI is collaborating with partners to increase the use of nature-based solutions in agrifood systems in SSA.
Registration of biopesticides in Pakistan
Agriculture is extremely important to Pakistan’s economy and people. It is the largest sector, employing over 40% of the workforce and contributing approximately 24% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, the increase in demand for food is being challenged by low agricultural productivity due to losses caused by crop pests and diseases. To overcome these problems, there is an overreliance on pesticides which have caused food safety issues due to excessive pesticide residues. Pakistan is therefore focusing on sustainable pest management and ecosystem conservation. Working with CABI and partners, Pakistan has approved biopesticide registration guidelines to promote environmentally friendly pest control products.
Generative AI for Agriculture Advisory
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technology offers enormous potential by addressing information asymmetries and rapidly advancing research. In the agriculture sector, it can localize digital advisory messages and increase the accessibility of such messages to reduce the digital divide compared to traditional, non-AI communication methods. Using natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) offers new potential to disseminate complex scientific information more widely, in local dialects and through various formats, transforming accessibility. This project will explore the potential to deliver advisories based on CABI’s highly curated and expert-validated resources to plant doctors and other agriculture advisors via Generative AI chatbot technology, and the data governance and licensing necessary to ensure the quality of such advisories.
Featured Publications
Papers and other publications that we hope you find enlightening
Level of damage and yield losses associated with the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on maize (Zea mays), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) on station in Burkina Faso
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2024.106743
Type Journal article
Published in Crop Protection, 182
Language English
Year 2024
Unleashing nature’s defenders: Farmer-managed natural enemies field reservoirs (NEFRs) enhance management of the invasive papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) in coastal Kenya
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocontrol.2024.105528
Type Journal article
Published in Biological Control, 193
Language English
Year 2024
