CABI BioProtection Portal welcomes global associate
The CABI BioProtection Portal – an online bio-protection resource, available in four continents – has strengthened its ability to promote the worldwide adoption of natural pest control by welcoming BioProtection Global (BPG), a worldwide association of biocontrol and bio pesticides industry associations, as an associate.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between CABI and BPG – the worldwide federation of biocontrol and biopesticide industry associations – that will see BPG’s member alliances promote the use of the CABI BioProtection Portal worldwide.
The BPG’s associations comprise primarily of manufacturers of biocontrol and biopesticide products for professional use in agriculture, public health, forestry, animal health and other non-crop uses.
Its influence in the biocontrol industry should encourage more manufacturers to partner with the BioProtection Portal, which is available in Spain, Peru, Chile, Brazil, Ghana and Kenya, with more countries expected to join soon.
A free-to-use-tool, the portal helps growers and pest management advisers to identify, source and correctly apply biocontrol and biopesticide products for their specific crop-pest problems.
Dr Ulrich Kuhlmann, the executive director, global operations at CABI said: “Globally, about 40 per cent of crops are lost to pests and diseases. The widespread use of chemical pesticides to fight crop pests is not sustainable economically and environmentally in the long run, especially when you factor in the impacts exacerbated by climate change.
“CABI is delighted to welcome BioProtection Global as an associate member. Our joint collaboration to promote the benefits of more sustainable pest management will not only benefit growers in the short term, but also the environment in the medium to long-term future.”
The CABI BioProtection Portal aims to become the go-to resource for identifying and sourcing biocontrol and biopesticide products. It will be particularly beneficial to growers keen to replace chemical pesticides with biological products in order to meet market or export standards, satisfy consumer demands for healthier and safer food and reduce pressures on the environment.
Mr Nicolás Cock Duque, president of BioProtection Global, said: “The CABI BioProtection Portal brings together the various safer and more environmentally friendly bio-protection products that growers can add to their ‘arsenal’ against crop pests as part of an integrated pest management plan.”
The innovative tool has been made available by CABI in collaboration with its network of partner biocontrol manufacturers, donors and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for International Cooperation and Development.