IAPPS NEWSLETTER

Number XII      December, 2008

GLOBAL IPM FORUM: REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Michigan State University organized a global IPM Forum at the Kellogg Center on the campus of MSU, June 15 -17, 2008. Drs Karim Maredia, George Bird and Dieudonne Baributsa provided leadership in the development and coordination of the Forum program. The Global IPM forum brought together more than 60 Global IPM leaders, program/project managers and research scientists from 29 countries in Africa, Europe, Central Asia, South Asia, Latin America, and North America representing national agricultural research systems (NARS), policy makers, and representatives of international organizations, private sector, NGOs and donor community.
The main objectives of the Global IPM Forum were to:

• Provide a platform for interactive discussions on the lessons learned in IPM implementation during the past 25-50 years and their implications for a new, equitable and sustainable global agriculture
• Identify short-term and long-term global priorities in IPM research, education, and outreach activities towards meeting the emerging challenges and opportunities of the new global agriculture
• Develop a plan of action for creating new global partnerships and strategies for strengthening IPM research, education, extension/outreach, communication, and networking globally

Key Recommendations: IPM Research

• Design and implement IPM research programs related to landscape and habitat management for conserving natural enemies and beneficial organisms in agro-ecosystem
• Initiate research programs to validate indigenous knowledge of local biodiversity for pest management
• Initiate long-term research programs that assess the impact of global climate change on pest population and IPM practices
• Broaden the scope of IPM research programs to encompass human health benefit aspects
• Design multidisciplinary IPM research programs that address gender issues and build partnerships with private sector
• Strengthen research programs on pest resistance management for new IPM tools and technologies
• Initiate research for developing models related to surveillance and forecasting of pests using remote sensing tools to predict pest outbreaks (early warning systems)

Key Recommendations: IPM Academic Education/Instruction

• Develop web-based training materials on IPM (including online modules, CDs, DVDs, etc) that capture IPM experiences of global community
• Develop a system for more meaningful involvement of stakeholders (private sector, government, NGOs, etc) in the development and delivery of IPM educational programs
• Enhance IPM educational programs/curriculum by including internships and experiential learning components to strengthen students understanding of IPM in the field
• Develop programs and practical teaching tools such as textbooks and manuals on "how to teach IPM" to various stakeholders" including students, training of trainers (ToTs) and farmers
• Establish sandwich and/or joint degree programs to facilitate access to existing IPM knowledge, information and resources already available worldwide

Key Recommendations: IPM Extension/Outreach for developing countries:

• Develop extension systems (with incentives) that effectively reach end-users, address gender issues, and incorporate their feedback
• Mobilize traditional and non-traditional resources to enhance current extension systems and training of extension specialists and educators (e.g. public-private partnerships, create networks and establish pilot programs)
• Integrate already developed/available IPM packages into existing agricultural extension and outreach programs
• Establish local and regional facilities for pest surveillance and diagnostics
• Document innovative IPM projects for use as case studies in IPM extension and outreach programs
• Make IPM integral part of the Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) for meeting local and export standards including food safety and sanitary and phytosanitary requirements

Key Recommendations: IPM Extension/Outreach for developed countries:

• Increase awareness of IPM among decision makers
• Establish industry standards for IPM consultants
• Increase communication targeting the public about the value of IPM
• Develop programs and networks to promote and sustain collaboration and information exchange between developed and developing countries

Key Recommendations: IPM Communication

• Utilize traditional and emerging ICT tools such as radio, video, cell phones and internet for effective and rapid communication of IPM related information - rural radio programs, video films, SMS text messages and photos
• Use locally trusted community leaders and innovative farmers as spoke persons for IPM communication and outreach programs
• Recognize the value of local indigenous knowledge and integrate/mainstream (where necessary) into IPM programs
• Integrate IPM related information into existing agricultural programs
• Train scientists and extension workers to become effective communicators
• Through participatory approaches, integrate feedback mechanisms in various communication strategies

Key Recommendations: IPM Networking and Partnership

• Develop a web resource for easy access to pest identification and diagnostic keys for key pests
• Support the development of region-specific IPM resources and make them available through electronic means (websites, DVDs, etc) targeting various stakeholders
• Develop a Global Portal that would facilitate links and communications among IPM programs worldwide:
  • Create a central repository of Global IPM information and knowledge-base that can be easily accessed by IPM stakeholders around the world
  • Enhance platforms for networking in IPM (e.g. IPM and Plant Protection Associations and Societies) and use Wiki approach for on-line interactions in IPM
• Enhance regionalization of IPM programs though collaboration and cooperation

Dr. Karim Maredia
Director, World Technology Access Program
Institute of International Agriculture
Michigan State University
E-mail: kmaredia@msu.edu

IMPORTANT RECOGNITION FOR IAPPS MEMBER
DR HARI C. SHARMA

Dr Hari C. Sharma, Principal Scientist - Entomology, International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) has been elected as the President of the Council of International Congress of Entomology (ICE) at the 23rd International Congress of Entomology, 6 - 12 July 2008, Durban, South Africa. Dr Sharma will hold the office of President of ICE till the next congress in 2012 in Daegou, South Korea. The other office bearers of the council elected for the next four years are: Prof Shirley Hanrahan - Vice-president (South Africa), and Dr James Ridsdill-Smith - Secretary General (Australia).

Dr Sharma has been working at ICRISAT for the past 30 years. He obtained his PhD degree from Indian Agricultural Institute, New Delhi, and joined ICRISAT in Dec 1979. He also served as Visiting Scientist at University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA (1986/87), and at the Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, Australia (1996). Dr Sharma's has made significant contributions are in the areas of crop protection and crop improvement covering insect bio-ecology and ecology, biological control, natural pesticides, insect resistant varieties, transgenics, and bio-safety of transgenic crops to non-target organisms. His research has led to the development of several insect-resistant varieties that have been released for cultivation to the farmers or used in crop improvement programs worldwide. He has published over 300 research/conference papers, and written/edited 5 books, of which the books on Applications of Biotechnology in Pest Management and Ecological Considerations (CRC Press), and Heliothis/Helicoverpa Management (Oxford and IBH), will serve the scientific and farming community for a long time to come.

Dr Sharma's contributions have earlier been recognized by several academic bodies with over a dozen awards, including the prestigious "CGIAR Excellence in Science Award", CGIAR, Washington, "The International Award of Distinction in Plant Protection Sciences" by the International Association of Plant Protection Sciences (IAPPS), and the "HariOm Ashram Trust Award" by the Government of India. Dr Sharma has also served as Vice-President of Plant Protection Association of India and Academy of Environmental Biology. He is a Fellow of the Entomological Society of India, Plant Protection Association of India, and Academy on Environmental Biology. He is member of several academic societies, and has been serving on the editorial boards of many national and international journals devoted to promotion of science. On behalf of the entire IAPPS community, I would like to congratulate Hari for this prestigious recognition.

Dr. E. A. "Short" Heinrichs
IAPPS Secretary General
E-mail: eheinric@vt.edu

The IAPPS Newsletter is published by the International Association for the Plant Protection Sciences and distributed in Crop Protection to members and other subscribers. Crop Protection, published by Elsevier, is the Official Journal of IAPPS. IAPPS Mission: to provide a global forum for the purpose of identifying, evaluating, integrating, and promoting plant protection concepts, technologies, and policies that are economically, environmentally, and socially acceptable. It seeks to provide a global umbrella for the plant protection sciences to facilitate and promote the application of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to a the world's crop and forest ecosystems. Membership Information: IAPPS has four classes of membership (individual, affiliate, associate, and corporate) which are described here. The IAPPS Newsletter welcomes news, letters, and other items of interest from individuals and organizations. Address correspondence and information to: Dr. Manuele Tamo, Editor IAPPS Newsletter Biological Control Center for Africa, IITA-Benin 08 B.P. 0932 Tri Postal, Cotonou, Republic of Benin E-mail: m.tamo@cgiar.org