IITA News

Publication showcases 50 years of IITA’s plant health research

The United Nations General Assembly has declared 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health (IYPH), with the objective to raise global awareness on how protecting plant health can help end hunger, reduce poverty, protect the environment, and boost economic development. IITA joins the rest of the world in commemorating this.

Front cover of the publication from Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing.

In 2019, a new book, titled “Critical issues in plant health: 50 years of research in African agriculture,” was released. Published by Burleigh Dodds Science Publishing, the book focuses on plant health issues which play a major role in the overall food production in Africa, affecting both quality and quantity of crop yields.

Over the past 50 years, IITA has been leading research on plant health issues in Africa ranging from the safe handling and movement of germplasm and seed to identifying and managing threats to crops in the region.

The publication puts a spotlight on plant health issues in sub-Saharan Africa which are key to improving yields and summarizes 50 years of research on plant health by IITA to improve the health of crops in the continent. The book also reviews ways of improving the health of key African crops such as cassava, maize, and grain legumes, and brings together leading experts on plant health in sub-Saharan Africa to review progress in dealing with the range of biotic threats faced by African farmers.

The book is edited by Benin-based IITA Emeritus Scientist Peter Neuenschw ander, who is also the former Director of IITA’s Plant Health Management Division, and Manuele Tamò, Insect Ecologist and IITA-Benin Country Representative. Several scientists and researchers from IITA and partner organizations have contributed to the book’s contents.

The book has four parts, namely: Managing threats to plant health; Plant health in practice: Managing threats to key African crops; Integrated pest management: Putting it all together and exchange of knowledge with farmers; and Conclusions and future challenges.

Speaking in the lead-up to the book release, Francis Dodds, Editorial Director at Burleigh Dodds said: “… IITA has been a particular pioneer in biological control, starting with programs against the cassava mealybug and the cassava green mite. IITA has been a world leader in the use of entomopathogenic fungi against locusts and grasshoppers and the use of entomopathogenic viruses to combat pests of cowpea, for example.”

Dodds also quoted the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences President, Prof Geoff Norton, who noted that “This book should be essential reading for those involved in all aspects of plant health in tropical agriculture, as well as elsewhere.”

It aims to be a standard reference on improving the management of pests and diseases in developing countries.

Use code IITA20 at checkout via https://bdspublishing.com to receive 20% off your purchase of Critical issues in plant health: 50 years of research in African agriculture.

 

2020IITA News no. 2527iyphplant health

Communication Office • 6th March 2020


Previous Post

Next Post

Leave a Reply

restbet restbet tv restbet giriş restbet restbet güncel restbet giriş restbet restbet giriş restizle betpas betpas giriş pasizle betpas betpas giriş pasizle iskambil oyunları rulet nasıl oynanır blackjack nasıl oynanır uluslararası nakliyat istanbul eşya depolama tuzla eşya depolama evden eve nakliyat eşya depolama evden eve nakliyat malatya rent a car bostancı evden eve nakliyat üsküdar evden eve nakliyat sex shop beşiktaş sex shop maltepe sex shop nakliyat istanbul şehirler arası nakliyat