Invasive species

Through our work with donors and partners, we are helping to manage the spread of invasive species, a problem that costs the world almost 5% of global gross domestic product or an estimated US$1.4 trillion per year

The challenge

Millions of the world’s most vulnerable people face problems with invasive weeds, insects, plant diseases and animals, which fundamentally threaten the economic growth supported by sustainable development.

Invasive species disproportionately affect vulnerable communities in poor rural areas, especially in developing countries, which depend on natural resources, healthy ecosystems, trade and tourism for their livelihoods.

Teaching children how to spot Fall armyworm

Providing solutions

Recognising the urgent need for action to protect development and economic growth, we are tackling invasive species around the world. Through a range of projects and knowledge tools, we help protect livelihoods and biodiversity.

We have worked on invasive species for over 100 years, developing practical ways of tackling the biggest threats. Our scientists are world leaders in biocontrol research – an approach that uses invasive species’ natural enemies, like insects, to control their spread.

We produce a range of dedicated knowledge tools on invasive species. These include information on how to prevent the spread of invasive species, how to detect outbreaks and best practice solutions for controlling invasives.

Our invasive species expertise in more detail

Through its global Action on Invasives programme, we are developing and implementing solutions for invasive species around the world, helping to protect 50 million poor rural households.

As experts in biocontrol (the use of living organisms, such as insects or pathogens, to control pest populations), we help farmers control crop pests in order that they can grow more and lose less.

The Invasive Species Compendium is open access and designed to support the work of everyone faced with the identification, prevention and management of invasive species around the world.

With over 800 years of collective experience in its ranks, CABI is successfully helping to control invasive species worldwide, including the devastating fall armyworm crop pest in Africa and Asia

More about Invasive Species

Key contact

CABI has expertise in the prevention, early detection and eradication, and management of invasive species, in centres around the globe including our Swiss centre.

CABI In Switzerland

Hariet L Hinz

Global Director, Invasive Species

T: +41 (0)32 421 48 72 E: h.hinz@cabi.org

More resources

Stories of Impact

Read about the variety of work CABI delivers, and the difference we make

PlantwisePlus pest risk tools help protect Ghana’s biosecurity

Joint plant-livestock clinics reap One Health benefits for farmers in Kenya and Uganda

Project boosts Uganda’s horticultural trade

Related Projects

Explore our database of recent projects from around the world

Integrated management of fall armyworm in rice-based ecosystems

Rice is a food security crop in the Philippines. It is the second most important commodity after sugar cane. However, an invasion of the fall armyworm in Asia is damaging food crops, including rice, and threatening the food, nutrition and income security of millions of farming households. To sustainably manage this ferocious pest, an integrated pest management strategy is required. CABI is providing its expertise to help the country develop ‘preparedness’ strategies to mitigate the impacts of fall armyworm on rice production.

Developing beneficial nematode-based biocontrol solutions to fall armyworm in Africa

EU-China joint action to increase the development and adoption of IPM tools

The persistent threat of invasive agricultural pests and their chronic re-emergence underlines the importance of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and their implementation. Pest management typically relies largely on chemical pesticides, increasing the risks to humans and wildlife. Despite European Union and Chinese policies promoting the use of IPM, widespread adoption by farmers is limited. This project will utilize existing knowledge and techniques to adapt and optimize future IPM tools and practices. The project will further develop high-potential IPM tools and design cost-effective, environmentally safe IPM packages for economically important crops. Together with partners, CABI will lead the development of a web-based IPM tool performance demonstrator. CABI will also make valuable contributions to the development and efficacy of IPM tools against fall armyworm and develop a biocontrol agent for common ragweed.

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