Ecological researchers leads development of safe biopesticides to combat armyworm outbreaks

Millions of tonnes of maize are lost annually in Africa alone to fall armyworm, an invasive crop pest from the Americas, enough to feed tens of millions of people and an economic loss of $4.6 billion. It has now spread to Asia, Oceania and Australasia, and will soon reach Europe posing a threat to global food security. Some chemical pesticides can be effective but extremely damaging to human health, wildlife and the environment. A Lancaster ecologist is leading the way to replace these with environmentally safe biopesticides against armyworms.

More than twenty years of research by Professor Kenneth Wilson has resulted in the development of a new biopesticide against armyworms. This biopesticide is derived from a natural virus of the insects and is much safer than synthetic chemical alternatives. A purpose-built facility has been constructed in Tanzania for mass-producing the biopesticide and to better understand the constraints on use, especially by resource-poor smallholder farmers. Wilson’s intimate knowledge of armyworm ecology in Africa, and smallholder farming practices in relation to these pests, meant that he was uniquely placed to respond to the crisis that ensued following the invasion of Fall Armyworms (FAW).

• The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation established eleven Technical Working Groups to develop a strategy to combat FAW. Wilson was asked to chair the Biopesticides TWG and provided insights to regular international meetings including recommendations on which pesticides and biopesticides are suitable for FAW management.
• Wilson was invited to deliver the first webinar on the significant risks associated with chemical pesticides and safer alternatives. This was watched by 150 stakeholders at high government levels from more than 30 countries globally.
• The UN-FAO developed a new three-year plan called Global Action for Fall Armyworm Control to ensure a strong coordinated approach. They have invested $500 million in the plan.
• Wilson was subsequently an invited keynote speaker at further summits in Kenya, Ghana, Uganda and Thailand, and was asked to contribute to the development of a long-term management plan for the new invasive pest in Africa and Asia; this has resulted in three further UN-FAO technical publications.
• Forecasts of FAW outbreaks published via Wilson’s dedicated Armyworm Network website has, for over ten years, provided information to farmers, government officials, NGOs, the press and other stakeholders.
• Worked with SME Crop Bioscience Solutions (CBS) Ltd., the first bio-tech company to be established in Tanzania, to locally mass-produce a virus biopesticide. The collaboration has also allowed the company to diversify into tissue culture and disease-free crops.