IAPPS NEWSLETTER Number VII July, 2007 'SHORT' GETS FULLBRIGHT AWARDIAPPS Secretary General, Dr. E. A. "Short" Heinrichs has been awarded a year 2007-2008 Fulbright grant to lecture and conduct research in Brazil. He will teach a course on Integrated Pest Management (IPM), conduct a survey of rice insects in farmer's fields and advise graduate students conducting rice IPM studies for their theses. He will be located at the Universidae do Vale do Rio dos Sinos (UNISINOS) in Sao Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul, in southern Brazil. The research will be in collaboration with the state rice association, IRGA (Instituto Riograndense do Arroz), the federal university, Universidade Federal do Rio Gande do Sul and the Fundaçao Zoobotanica, Porto Alegre.
Short is an entomologist with extensive overseas and US experience in the development and implementation of IPM programs. His research includes the development of sustainable IPM practices involving insect resistant crop varieties integrated with biological control agents, cultural practices and the judicious use of pesticides. He is the author of 7 books and 400+ scientific research articles on IPM subjects. His administrative experience includes positions as Entomology Department Head at LSU and in international agricultural research centers in Africa and Asia and as Director of the IPM CRSP. His crop emphasis has been primarily on rice and soybeans but he has also had experience in wheat, groundnut, vegetables, and maize and in estate crops including cotton and cashews. Short is currently a Research Professor in the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL) Department of Entomology, a consultant for the Sorghum, Millet and Other Grains Collaborative Research Support Program (CRSP) (INTSORMIL) based on the UNL East Campus, and a consultant for the IPM CRSP based at Virginia Tech. Please join me to congratulate Short, our Secretary General, for this prestigious award.
Dr. Manuele Tamò BOOK REVIEWPesticides: Health, Safety and the EnvironmentGraham Matthews Publisher: Blackwell Publishing, Oxford (2006) US$159.99, €79.50 ISBN: 9781405130912 Many may ask, "Why another book on pesticides?" Others might wonder, "with the increasing use of genetically engineered crops worldwide, and the environmental concerns associated with pesticides, why another book on this topic?" However, in his new book, Pesticides: Health, Safety and the Environment (2006), Graham Matthews effectively articulates the need for a balanced response to each of these questions. Moreover, he asserts that the safe and effective use of pesticides continues to be relevant, particularly for developing countries, where the resources for appropriate regulation, education or enforcement of safety guidelines remain inadequate. This book builds upon the author's previous contribution, Pesticide Application Methods (2000; 3rd edition; Blackwell Publishing). However, an overriding theme of this book is that careful, balanced regulations, including the harmonization of regulations among developing countries can significantly improve judicious pesticide use. Drawing on his extensive experience in many developing countries, Matthews emphasizes and illustrates that pesticides continue to be applied by children or family members, often without appropriate protective clothing, either because such protection is too costly, or uncomfortable due to excessive heat and humidity. Throughout the book, Matthews provides a strong case that despite recent trends for increasing use of genetically engineered crops, pesticide use will continue to be a critical input in many agricultural systems, particularly for the high value vegetable and fruit crops where transgenic crops have received less attention. The key will be limiting future use to only the most appropriate, efficacious and environmentally benign materials, within an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) context. To communicate key points, the book is illustrated with ca. 115 photographs and figures. In addition, the book is well organized with a functional index and three useful appendices, including a comprehensive list of pesticide terms and definitions, and a convenient safety checklist for applicators. Although the book provides a succinct overview of the relevant concerns and challenges of pesticide use worldwide, most of the advances, and regulatory and educational programs reviewed, emphasize experiences from developing counties and UK or European perspectives. For example, more examples could be given from the U.S. experience, including the impacts of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996. However, references and web sites are provided for further review of U.S. developments, including developments within the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. In summary, the book is very informative, providing several examples of pesticide use progress and challenges worldwide. Matthews provides a timely, highly readable overview of the current pesticide situation, major crops and systems impacted, and the critical need for improved regulatory, IPM, and educational approaches to facilitate both judicious and safe use of pesticides. The book provides a convenient, single source of new information on topics that will be useful to those teaching IPM and pesticide safety courses, government officials active in regulatory policy, and for agricultural specialists working in applied IPM worldwide.
Prof. W.D. Hutchison
CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT:
We are now inviting contributions for this international conference, to be held at Robinson College, Cambridge, UK, 9-11 January 2008. The closing date for submission of offers is 1st June 2007. |
The Fulbright Program is the U.S. Government's flagship exchange activity proposed by Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas. Established in 1946, the Fulbright Program aims to increase mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries, through the exchange of persons, knowledge, and skills. Sponsored by the United States Department of State, the Fulbright Program provides funding for students, scholars, and professionals to undertake graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary, and secondary schools.|
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 |