The use of indigenous ecological resources for pest control in Africa
The use of indigenous ecological resources for pest control in Africa
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DOI：
10.1007/s12571-013-0313-5
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发表时间：
2014-02-01
期刊：
影响因子：
6.7
通讯作者：
Wilson, K.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Grzywacz, D.;Stevenson, P. C.;Wilson, K.
减少作物虫害损失将有助于增加粮食供应，促进撒哈拉以南非洲（SSA）的经济增长。然而，依赖合成农用化学农药的现有作物保护模式对构成撒南非洲农业主要部分的许多贫穷小农户的生产力影响甚微。这主要是因为其中许多国家负担不起或无法获得这些进口化学品。解决这一作物保护问题的一个办法可能是利用当地现有的生物资源，如地方性昆虫天敌和土著杀虫植物材料。非洲已经在开发的两个具体例子是使用杀虫植物非洲毛豆和收获地方性昆虫杆状病毒-Spodoptera exampeta核型多角体病毒。这两种产品都可以在当地生产，在非洲试用后显示出作为廉价和有效的虫害控制工具的前景，非洲研究人员网络目前正在扩大和评估其使用。对这些系统的关注说明了利用当地现有自然资源改善非洲作物保护的潜力。在提供宝贵的生态系统服务（包括虫害控制）的自然资本的更广泛背景下考虑这些杀虫植物和昆虫天敌，将有助于更好地认识其真正的经济和社会价值。虽然这两种模式都显示出前景，但在发展经济上可行和可持续的生产、供应和销售系统方面，还需要克服非常重大的挑战。监管环境也必须不断发展，以适应和促进新产品的注册，并建立适当的供应链，与当地社区公平分享这些资源的惠益。
Reducing the losses from crop pests will help to increase food availability and boost economic growth in subSaharan Africa (SSA). However, the existing crop protection paradigm that relies on synthetic agrochemical pesticides has had only a marginal impact on the productivity of many poor smallholder farmers who constitute a major segment of agriculture in SSA. This is primarily because many of them are not able to afford or access these imported chemicals. A solution to this crop protection problem may be to harness biological resources that are locally available, such as endemic insect natural enemies and indigenous pesticidal plant materials. Two specific examples of this already under development in Africa are the use of the pesticidal plant, Tephrosia vogelii, and the harvesting of the endemic insect baculovirus, Spodoptera exempta nucleopolyhedrovirus (SpexNPV). Both of these can be produced locally and have shown promise in trials as inexpensive and effective tools for pest control in Africa and their use is currently being scaled up and evaluated by African networks of researchers. A focus on these systems illustrates the potential for using locally-available natural resources for improved crop protection in Africa. The consideration of these pesticidal plants and insect natural enemies in the wider context of natural capital that provide valuable ecosystem services (including pest control), will facilitate greater recognition of their true economic and societal worth. While both of these model systems show promise, there are also very significant challenges to be overcome in developing production, supply and marketing systems that are economically viable and sustainable. The regulatory environment must also evolve to accommodate and facilitate the registration of new products and the establishment of appropriate supply chains that share the benefits of these resources equitably with the local communities from which they are harvested.