This article is one in a series outlining the 20 research projects which are funded by CONNECTED in its pump-prime funding programme. To read all the available articles use this link.
Developing eco-friendly insecticides
A project aimed at developing new treatments that smallholder farmers can use to protect their crops, and break plant disease cycles
African farmers are known to use botanical insecticides, but currently usually only have access to crude preparations. This project is exploring the activity of novel eco-friendly formulations against key insect vectors, which have been highly effective against aphids in a parallel research project.
The project tests the effectiveness of botanical insecticides against key virus vectors, such as
- aphids that spread Banana bunchy top virus and Bean common mosaic virus
- whitefly vectors of Cassava mosaic and Cassava brown streak viruses
- cicadulina leafhoppers that spread Maize streak virus.
Translation of the new treatments and formulation methods to Africa has the potential to provide new options to farmers for protecting their crops from devastating losses, currently valued at billions of pounds.
Countries
- Nigeria
- Tanzania
- UK
International research collaboration
- International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, Tanzania and Nigeria
- Keele University (UK)
- Russell IPM Integrated Pest Management (UK)
People
- Toby Bruce (Principal Investigator)
- Everlyne Wosula
- James Legg
- Lava Kumar
Network members can find further details about those involved in the project by logging in to this site as a member, and using the Member Directory.
To become a network member free of charge, use this link.
Symptoms of Cassava Brown Streak Virus Disease
Symptoms of Cassava Mosaic Virus Disease and Whiteflies