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

除虫菊是一种多年生植物，其花是生物活性除虫菊酯的来源，因其对园艺害虫的快速击倒而被公认，但具有极低的哺乳动物毒性和在环境中的非持久性。它们是现有的和全球交易的天然植物杀虫剂的基础。除虫菊酯是园艺中使用最广泛的植物杀虫剂，其使用量正在增加，从2007年的仅4509公吨增加到2016年的9000公吨。1983年，肯尼亚曾是全球产量最高的国家，占全球供应量的90%，近30,000公吨的产量表明了这项技术的潜力和小农创收的空间。除虫菊酯的含量是可变的，取决于品种和生长条件，而花的增殖则取决于繁殖。虽然除虫菊酯是以植物为基础的，但在提取时使用有毒溶剂，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，因此需要新的植物性增效剂和载体。该项目的目的是优化提取和生产，开发以植物为基础和可持续的创新除虫菊酯配方，并通过合作社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驱动力。在该项目期间开发的新有机配方和加工方法将提供新的产品，激励更多的客户，并有助于支持该部门的持续增长和更广泛的可支持食品生产。我们相信我们可以实现我们的主要目标，在项目的36个月时间框架内进行这些改进，重振除虫菊行业，留下一个可持续的行业。该项目将实现以下结果：1.利用改进的试管苗萌发程序开发高质量的繁殖材料，以保证腋芽的增殖和生根，以优化花朵中的除虫菊酯含量。开发了一种基于乙醇和超声波的有机方法提取拟除虫菊酯。开发新的植物油为基础的溶剂(赋形剂)，例如从肯尼亚容易获得的和本土的巴豆油和欧芹种子油，以取代合成壳牌Sol(R)T油。开发用植物油/增效剂取代胡椒基丁醚的新配方，以及用植物性稳定剂取代丁基羟基甲苯的新配方，例如，来自_Petroselum crispum_(Parally)5\。确定并与主要的除虫菊酯利益相关者合作，通过农民合作社为肯尼亚有机农业注册一种以除虫菊酯为基础的产品。

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.