Pyrethrum in Bloom: Bringing Back the Power of Pyrethrum to Enhance Livelihoods of Small Holders in Kenya

除虫菊（tanacetum cinerariifolium_）是一种多年生植物，其花是生物活性除虫菊酯的来源，在园艺中被广泛认为具有快速杀灭害虫的作用，但对哺乳动物的毒性很低，对环境不具有持久性。它们是现有的和全球交易的天然植物杀虫剂的基础。除虫菊是园艺中使用最广泛的植物农药，其使用量正在增加，从2007年的4509吨增加到2016年的9000吨。1983年，肯尼亚曾是产量方面的全球领导者，贡献了全球90%的供应量，产量接近3万吨，这表明这项技术的潜力和为小农创造收入的空间。除虫菊酯含量是可变的，取决于品种和生长条件，而花的增殖取决于繁殖。虽然除虫菊是植物基的，但在提取过程中使用有毒溶剂，并在配方中加入合成添加剂作为稳定剂、增效剂和载体，这意味着它不适合有机农业，因此需要新的植物基增效剂和载体。该项目的目的是优化提取和生产，开发以植物为基础的可持续创新除虫菊配方，并通过合作运动使肯尼亚的小农受益。一旦该行业复苏，经济效益将成为这些农民和加工厂增长的动力。项目期间开发的新的有机配方和加工方法将提供新的产品，以激励更多的客户，并有助于支持该行业的持续增长和更广泛的可持续粮食生产。我们相信，在36个月的项目时间框架内，我们可以实现我们的主要目标，通过这些改进来重振除虫菊行业，使其成为一个可持续发展的行业。本项目将实现以下成果：1\；利用改进的离体萌发程序培育高质量的繁殖体，保证腋芽繁殖和生根，以优化花的除虫菊酯含量。建立一种基于乙醇和超声波的有机提取除虫菊酯的方法。开发新的植物油基溶剂（辅料），例如从肯尼亚当地现成的croton megalocarpus_和欧芹籽油中提取，以取代合成的Shell Sol(r) T油。开发使用植物油/增效剂替代胡椒酰丁醇的新配方；和植物基稳定剂，以取代丁基羟基甲苯，例如，来自_Petroselinum crispum_ (Parsely) 5\。确定并与除虫菊的主要利益相关者合作，通过农民合作社为肯尼亚有机农业登记除虫菊产品。

Pyrethrum (_Tanacetum cinerariifolium_) is a perennial plant whose flowers are a source of bioactive pyrethrins widely recognized for their rapid knock down of insect pests in horticulture but having very low mammalian toxicity and non-persistence in the environment. They are the basis of established and globally traded natural plant insecticides. Pyrethrum is the most widely used plant pesticide in horticulture and its use is increasing with \>9000 MT grown in 2016, increasing from only 4509 MT in 2007\. Kenya was formerly the global leader in production contributing 90% of global supply in 1983 with nearly 30,000MT indicating the potential for this technology and scope for income generation among smallholders. Pyrethrin content is variable and dependent upon variety and growing conditions while flower proliferation is dependent on propagation. While pyrethrum is plant based, the use of toxic solvents for extraction and inclusion of synthetic additives as stabilizers, synergists and carriers in formulations means it is not suitable in organic farming so new plant-based synergists and carriers are required. The aim of this project is to optimise extraction and production and develop innovative pyrethrum formulations that are plant based and sustainable and that benefit smallholder farmers in Kenya through a cooperative movement. The economic benefits will serve as drivers for those farmers and the processing plants to grow once the sector is revived. New organic formulations and processing methods developed during the project will provide new products that incentivise more customers and help to support the continued growth of the sector and sustinjable food production more widely. We believe we can achieve our primary goal of making these improvements to revive the pyrethrum sector during the 36-month timeframe of the project, leaving a sustainable industry.This project will achieve the following outcomes:1\. Develop high quality propagules using improved in vitro germination procedures to guarantee axillary shoot multiplication and rooting to optimise pyrethrin content of flowers.2\. Develop an organic method for pyrethrin extraction based on ethanol and ultrasound.3\. Develop new plant oil-based solvents (excipients) e.g. from _Croton megalocarpus_ and parsley seed oil readily available and indigenous in Kenya, to replace the synthetic Shell Sol(r) T oil.4\. Develop new formulations using plant oils/synergists to replace piperonyl butoxide; and plant-based stabilizers to replace butylated hydroxytoluene e.g., from _Petroselinum crispum_ (Parsely) 5\. Identify and work with key pyrethrum stakeholders and register a pyrethrum-based product for Kenyan organic farming via a farmer cooperative.