Koppert and CABI collaborate on making more biological controls available

This follows the success of earlier collaboration in Kenya in March this year in which CABI and the Koppert Foundation stepped up their efforts to combat pests which threaten the food security and livelihoods of thousands of farmers and their families. Under the new agreement, more training is also envisaged for Plantwise* ‘plant doctors’ who give advice on integrated pest management to local farmers. 


Other key areas of intended collaboration between CABI and Koppert as part of the MoU are:

• The creation of new biological control products identified by CABI
• Raising the awareness of available registered biological control products in specific countries using a Biopesticides Portal currently being developed by CABI
• Enhancing and promoting the benefits of Plantwise plant doctors and the use of biological controls as part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Supporting the establishment of local production facilities of natural enemies to encourage the uptake of biological control in less developed countries 

Dr Trevor Nicholls, CABI CEO, said he was proud to be working alongside Koppert to help solve problems in agriculture and the environment. ‘We look forward to continuous research into existing and new innovative non-chemical integrated pest management solutions that ultimately allow farmers to grow more and lose less to agricultural pests and diseases.’

Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, Koppert’s Corporate Marketing Director, Peter Maes, said knowledge sharing was valuable to both organizations as it would promote vital food security in parts of the world where it was needed most. ‘CABI has a strong presence in Africa and Koppert Kenya and CABI are collaborating in a number of areas in East and West Africa. Validating each other’s data and promoting sustainable agriculture will benefit thousands of growers who annually battle with drought, pest and diseases .’