Plant Health Archives

Policymakers approve Aflasafe testing in Burundi

IITA-Burundi officially unveiled Aflasafe by presenting two Aflasafe products—Aflasafe BU01, a country-specific product, and Aflasafe KE01, the regional product—for field testing in Burundi. The Institute presented the products to stakeholders at the IITA-Burundi office in April. The IITA Country Representative, Emmanuel Njukwe, urged national and development partners to adopt practices that minimize aflatoxin contamination, particularly…

Study sheds light on banana’s defense mechanism against the deadly Fusarium wilt disease

IITA scientists have identified the defense mechanisms for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense (Foc) in resistant and susceptible cultivars with or without biological control agent (BCA) inoculation as part of efforts to identify effective ways to control Fusarium wilt of banana. Fusarium wilt is a disease caused by the soilborne fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp….

Improving human health with plant extracts

Healthy eating starts with healthy food choices, improving health, and preventing malnutrition and a range of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and health conditions. However, increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization, and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. Also, the exact make-up of a diversified, balanced, and healthy diet varies depending on…

Experts examine plant health from a One Health approach

Sustainably feeding the growing world population and safeguarding the environment we depend on for food requires a one-health approach. This assertion was the foundation of the fourth webinar in the CGIAR-organized International Year of Plant Health (IYPH) Webinar Series on 31 March. Plant health is critical in the one health approach to ensure food security,…

IYPH integrated pest and disease management

The third of four webinars earmarked by CGIAR to celebrate the International Year of Plant Health was held on 10 March 2021. The webinar focused on “Integrated Pest and Disease Management” and examined the different collaborative approaches employed in the sustainable management of transboundary pests and crop diseases, looking at how they impact our food…

CGIAR Germplasm Health Units contributing to global phytosanitary systems

Quarantine and phytosanitary procedures have been established in all countries worldwide to address seed-borne pests spread by screening export and import consignments of germplasm. The CGIAR Germplasm Health Units (GHUs) use a unique multidisciplinary approach to ensure phytosanitary protection for the safe conservation and global movement of germplasm from the 11 CGIAR genebanks and breeding…

How crop innovation is addressing the impact of the climate crisis in Africa

In a just-published op-ed, Martin Kropff, Director General, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) and Nteranya Sanginga, Director General, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), talk about CGIAR centers’ investment on long-term breeding to increase genetic gains in an important food crop like maize using many new tools and technologies. In the op-ed, Kropff…

Aflasafe KE01: Biocontrol measure for Aflatoxin

Aflatoxins are a family of secondary toxins produced by certain fungi found on a wide range of commodities, including maize and groundnut. The primary fungi that produce aflatoxins are Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus found in warm and humid regions of the world. Aflatoxin-producing fungi can contaminate crops in the field during harvest and storage,…

Scientists discuss ways to manage climate risks in protecting plant health

CGIAR, in conjunction with various partners including the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), has launched a series of webinars to celebrate the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), which continues in 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic disruption. The four-webinar series is themed “Unleashing the Potential of Plant Health.” The first webinar, “Climate change and…

Control of mycotoxin effect in plantain

Plantain (Musa paradisiaca L.) is a tropical staple found in Central and West Africa. They are often cooked green but may also be dried or ground for use as a meal. And the plantain meal can be refined further to flour. Fresh plantains are rich in potassium; a 100 g fruit provides 499 mg of potassium. They also provide adequate levels of minerals such as iron, magnesium, and phosphorous. Mature unripe plantain can be…