Food

Wasting away: pests and diseases eat into food security

The CABI Global Summit, "Food security in a climate of change" programme - October 2009

Image: These are the hands of a disappointed farmer in Western Tanzania whose stored maize was destroyed by Larger grain borer (Photo by Noah Phiri, CABI Africa)

In many developing countries between 40-50% of crops are lost from pests, diseases and inadequate storage before they reach the market. Addressing these losses with available solutions is an important focus for immediate measures to address food security.

Speaking on World Food Day, 16 October 2009, Dr Trevor Nicholls, Chief Executive Officer at CABI said:

"Farmer practices and farm management often receive insufficient attention when it comes to improving food security yet they are a vital component in the fight against hunger. Tackling pests, diseases and inadequate storage is part of the solution to improving food security along with crop breeding, testing and the introduction of new seed varieties.

"There are several quick 'wins' to improving food security that could be made today, using current technology. These include: improved quarantine, storage, identification and diagnosis of crop pests and diseases and increased surveillance and early-warning systems for monitoring their spread.

"About 525 million farms exist worldwide providing a livelihood for about 40% of the world’s population. Nearly 90% of these are small farms defined as having less than two hectares of land. Providing more on-the-ground support to these farmers is needed to help them manage crop pests and diseases and improve their storage techniques."

In an effort to improve international collaboration and address the issues surrounding food security, CABI will be hosting a global food summit on Tuesday 20 October in London.

More than 40 countries will be represented at the summit entitled 'Food security in a climate of change'. Senior government officials and representatives from development organizations and the corporate sector will come together to explore policies, practices and technologies to help us grow more and lose less of what we already grow.

Professor John Beddington, Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK Government, and keynote speaker at the summit, said:

"Global population is rising by six million people per month, coupled with increasing prosperity in the emerging economies that is driving major changes in diet. As people eat more meat and dairy products, the growth in demand for agricultural commodities accelerates to feed livestock. Estimates suggest an overall 50% increase in food demand by 2030, bringing key pressures too on water in many regions. A range of solutions will be needed if a world population set to pass eight billion by 2030 is to be fed equitably and sustainably. Improved protection of crops from pests and diseases in the field and during storage will be critical to reducing crop losses, and has a major contribution to make."

To see how CABI helps smallholder farmers deal with pests and diseases visit the Global Plant Clinic (GPC) website. The GPC is managed by CABI in alliance with Rothamsted Research and the Food and Environment Research Agency (Fera). The GPC trains plant doctors and scientists, establishes and supervises plant health clinics and builds plant health systems. The GPC receives funding from the UK's Department for International Development (DFID). For more information, visit: http://www.globalplantclinic.org/

(Source Website)