Managing risks from pests in global commodity networks – policy perspectives

Abstract

Up to 80 % of global commodity production comes from smallholdings of less than 0.5 ha. Yet commodity crops may be a substantial proportion of a country's exports, and feed into global supply networks. Pest risks thus have consequences at local, national and global levels. We consider three categories of risk in global commodity networks: introduction of pests to new areas, upsurges of established pests and the risks arising from management efforts. In each category we provide case studies and examples, and consider policy options. Increased travel, trade and transport increase the risks of introduction. Commodity specific biosecurity plans are required for preventing introductions, including analysis of the specific risks (pest pathways) and preparation of emergency responses. Regional and international cooperation is essential. Upsurges can be caused by crop management, evolution of new strains, and environment change. National systems must be responsive to detect problems and address them quickly. Capacity building for surveillance and diagnostics, and the development and dissemination of integrated pest management methods are needed. Investment in research and extension for the agricultural sector is vital. Risks linked with management efforts, specifically, the risk from agrochemicals are considered. Concerns in developed countries over food safety and environmental damage can place constraints on pest management. Failure to comply leads to loss of markets and buyer confidence. Policies that favour lower-risk pest management methods are needed, but are often lacking.

Applications of Biotechnology for Characterization of Plants and Pests as the Key Components of Plant Protection and Production Strategies: A Review

“…Similarly, in the development firms or extension system and plant health clinics need to be equipped with the state-of-the-art infrastructure and the necessary expertise to expedite all routine and regular services as per the international standards. In general, continuous capacity building programs need to be strategically implemented together with adequate financial investment in both research and extension sectors (Flood and Day, 2016).…”

“…Furthermore, Van Montagu (2020) indicates that science, society and economy are the three intertwined factors that shape our modern world and seriously demand an integrated network between likeminded nations. Thus, collaboration, cooperation and networking at local, regional and international levels are mandatory for any nation to achieve sustainable management of pests and enhance the bioeconomy (Flood and Day, 2016). In this regard, FAO (2019a) issued a guide for collaboration on Climate-Smart Agriculture.…”

“…The risk of transboundary epidemics, outbreaks and upsurges is increasing and can cause huge losses in crops, threatening the livelihoods of vulnerable farmers and the food and nutritional security of millions of people at a time (Lee et al, 2020). Upsurges can be caused by crop management, evolution of new strains, and environment change that national systems must be responsive to detect problems and address them quickly (Flood and Day, 2016). To this end, sustainable plant protection strategies, that emphasize on the deployment of state-of-the-art IPM approach is critically needed so to produce higher quality plants with minimal loss and wastage of all sorts (Dara, 2019).…”

Botanicals Against Tetranychus urticae Koch Under Laboratory Conditions: A Survey of Alternatives for Controlling Pest Mites

“…In agricultural crops, the main pest control method used is the spraying of solutions based on chemically synthetic products such as insecticides and acaricides [26]. Although this method has been effective in some cases for T. urticae Koch control, it has also demonstrated serious limitations and disadvantages, especially due to T. urticae Koch’s high reproductive potential.…”

Many unreported crop pests and pathogens are probably already present

“…For example, a major outbreak of coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) in Latin America, likely 54 to have been triggered by a failure in disease management, is reported to have caused large-scale 55 unemployment and social upheaval in recent years (Avelino et al, 2015). 56 57 Despite the expanding ranges of many CPPs, complete occupation of their potential ranges has not yet 58 occurred (Bebber et al, 2014a) and so there remains a strong impetus for biosecurity measures at 59 international borders (Fears et al, 2014;Flood & Day, 2016;MacLeod et al, 2016). Control of spread 60 within countries is extremely difficult because of largely unhindered transport of plants and soils (Ward, 61 2016), and biosecurity measures focus largely on quarantine and inspections at borders (MacLeod et 62 al., 2016).…”