Globalization, trade, and climate change, as well as reduced resilience in production systems due to decades of agricultural intensification, have played roles in the spread of pests. One of the significant threats to sustainable crop production across Eastern African countries is the increasing phenomenon of the introduction and spread of emergent pests. FAO Subregional Office for Eastern Africa (SFE), in collaboration, with the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI) undertook a survey and assessment to review the status of early warning, preparedness, and response capacities of NPPOs and agriculture extension services in the Eastern African countries. The survey involved a desk review of emergent pests, including insects, diseases, nematodes, and weeds. This report describes the status of their distribution in Eastern Africa, biological characteristics, description of hosts and symptoms on hosts as well as their economic importance and associated phytosanitary risks. The Intervention is designed to gather baseline information for developing fit-for-purpose initiatives to safeguard productivity and reduce vulnerabilities to shocks affecting food and nutrition security caused by pests and strengthen the relevant capacities of stakeholders to cope with these threats. The overall output is to develop a roadmap for surveillance, monitoring, and early response to emerging pests in Eastern Africa. Review of the existing plant protection acts and legislation; pest-listing activities for countries to develop lists of quarantine and non-quarantine pests and undertaking national contingency planning for prioritized pests are among the major recommended interventions.

This book presents experiences and successful case studies of integrated pest management (IPM) from developed and developing countries and from major international centres and programmes. It contains 39 chapters by many contributors addressing themes such as: emerging issues in IPM, including biotechnology, pesticide policies and socioeconomic considerations (8 chapters); country experiences from Africa, Asia, North and South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand (20 chapters); and regional and international experiences, including those of FAO, USAID, ICIPE, CIRAD, the World Bank and CGIAR Systemwide IPM Program (9 chapters). This book will be of significant interest to those working in the areas of crop protection, entomology and pest management.

Tanzania is one of the most biologically diverse nations in the world. Traveling from west to east across Tanzania, one encounters an incredible array of ecosystems and species. Beginning at Lakes Victoria, Tanganyika, and Nyasa that form much of the western boundary of Tanzania, one finds the most diverse and some of the most spectacular concentrations of endemic fish in any of the world's lakes. Moving further inland from the lakes, one meets the woodlands and plains of Serengeti, Ngorongoro, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara. The assemblages and movements of large mammals in these protected areas are unparalleled worldwide. Traveling yet further to the east, one comes to Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa. Mount Kilimanjaro is of sufficient height to not only contain seven major vegetation zones, but also maintain permanent glaciers. Finally, shortly before arriving at the Indian Ocean, one encounters the Eastern Arc Mountains, a series of isolated and geologically ancient mountains, which due to their height and proximity to the Indian Ocean intercept sufficient precipitation to support, in many areas, moist tropical forest. The Eastern Arc Mountains are among the richest sites biologically in all of Africa and harbor unusually high concentrations of endemic species - species whose geographic distribution are restricted to these mountains. Unfortunately, much of Tanzania's biodiversity is threatened by habitat alteration, destruction, and exploitation. The Eastern Arc forests face some of the most severe threats to any of Tanzania's biologically unique sites.

The stories presented in this report illustrate how improved collaboration among RTB centers is making a real difference. This includes harnessing the potential of genomics to accelerate the development of improved RTB varieties, facilitating collaborative responses to critical crop diseases and improving postharvest options. During its second year, the CGIAR Research Program on Roots, Tubers and Bananas (RTB) expanded its geographic reach and its network of partners while launching a series of collaborative initiatives aimed at resolving the most serious constraints faced by smallholder farmers growing RTB crops. While this work was initiated within a framework of seven disciplinary themes, RTB started a process to transition from an output-focused research agenda to one based on outcomes and impacts.

The new Kenyan government faces a complex domestic and global environment, and it is widely expected to address key food and agricultural challenges with a new set of policies and programs. This policy brief presents key recommendations from a forthcoming book, Food Systems Transformation in Kenya: Lessons from the Past and Policy Options for the Future, which provides research-based “food for thought and action” to support the Kenyan government’s efforts to improve food security.

Insects are a group of animals that contribute significantly to the proper functioning of different ecosystems on the planet. They provide services such as pollinating crops, recycling nutrients and controlling pests. Many scientific publications and reports have studied the current global decline of insects. This decline can severely affect other groups of animals including birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and small mammals that utilize insects as a source of food. This will have a great impact on the trophic cascade and an eventual adverse effect on the overall ecosystem. This book provides insights into the possible reasons behind the decline of insects as well as potential measures that might mitigate this decline. It contains eleven chapters written by different experts. The book is useful for a wide range of readers including entomologists, ecologists, botanists, environmentalists, and amateurs who love collecting and preserving insects.

Increased agricultural productivity is a major stepping stone on the path out of poverty in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, but farmers there face tremendous challenges improving production. Poor soil, inefficient water use, and a lack of access to plant breeding resources, nutritious animal feed, high quality seed, and fuel and electricity-combined with some of the most extreme environmental conditions on Earth-have made yields in crop and animal production far lower in these regions than world averages. Emerging Technologies to Benefit Farmers in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia identifies sixty emerging technologies with the potential to significantly improve agricultural productivity in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Eighteen technologies are recommended for immediate development or further exploration. Scientists from all backgrounds have an opportunity to become involved in bringing these and other technologies to fruition. The opportunities suggested in this book offer new approaches that can synergize with each other and with many other activities to transform agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.