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We are a leading global not-for-profit organisation specialising in sustainable

solutions for agricultural and environmental problems

a leading international not-for-profit publisher in applied life sciences

Our organisation is made up of 2 divisions:

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a global leader in applied biological sciences for sustainable agriculture and environmental

safety

What is CABI Bioscience?A multidisciplinary scientific capability

providing research, training and consultancy

focused on biodiversity, pest management and the

environment

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CABI Bioscience - A brief history

• 1913 Entomology Institute (IIE)

• 1920 Mycology Institute (IMI)

• 1927 Biological Control Institute (IIBC)

• 1929 Parasitology Institute (IIP)

• 1998 Integration to create multidisciplinary CABI Bioscience

CABI Bioscience resources200 staff, working at and from Bioscienceresearch and training centres in:

Kenya Malaysia Pakistan Switzerland Trinidad UK

and at partner institutions in:Costa Rica France

using the knowledge, literature, biological collections and experience built up over the past 89 years

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CABI Bioscience capabilities• unique combination of knowledge, experience and

skills

• integrated teams of systematists, microbiologists, ecologists, pathologists, nematologists, & biocontrol specialists

• unique reference collections of organisms and literature

• a network of research and training centres in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Caribbean

• strategic alliances with national and international institutions

CABI Bioscience summarya unique multidisciplinary scientific capability

highly need- & output-orientedworking along the continuum from farm to lab

in partnerships with the public & private sectorsto create a potent scientific force

dedicated to tackling some of the world’s key challenges

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CAB International South East Asia Regional Centre

• Develop and implement projects• Training for managers, researchers, extension

and information officers, technicians• Farmer participatory training and research• Organising regional/international conferences

and workshops• Supply of materials/biological control agents• Consultancies• Disseminate and market information materials• Linking countries with common interest areas

CABI - SEARC activities

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CABI Bioscience and oil palmCABI were instrumental in the introduction of oil palm weevil to Southeast Asia. Dr Syed of CIBC (now CABI) worked with Unilever to identify natural pollinators in West Africa and bring them to Malaysia

• Pollination problems with introduced weevils– weevils from PNG, Costa Rica and Ghana

were examined for presence of parasitic nematodes.

– PNG weevils contained a lot of nematodes which could be affecting fecundity and dispersal

CABI Bioscience and oil palmRecent research

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CABI Bioscience and oil palm

Ganoderma

CABI has done research on:• molecular and morphological characterization of Ganoderma• spatial mapping of Ganoderma in the field• spread of Ganoderma in the field• in vitro biodegradation of oil palm stems• assessing variation in Ganoderma from oil palm, coconut, tea, forest and betelnut

CABI Bioscience and oil palmGanoderma

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Training activities:• characterisation of Ganoderma using molecular techniques• attachment programme for Malaysian scientists to work in the UK• Facilitating information exchange between countries through study visits

CABI Bioscience and oil palmGanoderma

Proposed Project

Oil palm IPM discovery learning manual

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Background

• The RSPO developing sustainability criteria • Important part of sustainable production systems is use of

Integrated Pest Management.• Currently no one definitive set of IPM guidelines• Effective management methods known for some pests

and diseases, but generally not effectively applied by smallholders.

• A demand for newer and more sustainable measures, which reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, open burning etc.

• A better understanding of symptoms and pest ecology required for better pest management.

• Awareness of key pests needs to be raised within the global palm oil industry, for quarantine and potential movement of pests from one oil palm growing region to another.

Comprehensive ecological guides and discovery learning exercise manuals in high demand.

Previous examples produced by CAB International include:Vegetable IPM exercise bookVarious biocontrol bulletinsA cabbage discovery learning manualAn introductory coffee manualCocoa discovery learning manual

These manuals are written for a broad audience and the demand experienced for such manuals shows how hard it is for field-based IPM practitioners to get access to high quality content.

Background

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Discovery Learning ManualFor Cabbage Pest Management

Paul Van Mele, Lesley McGillivray, Julia Brunt, Helen Crowson, Janny Vos

A compilation based on three publications of CAB International:Crop Protection Compendium

Vegetable IPM ExercisesUnderstanding Natural Enemies

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• Liaison with project partners re nature and content of manual

• Identification of key experts to verify content• Defining manual contents, to include key pests, quality

images and producer training exercises• Sourcing information from multiple data sources, personal

experiences and existing manuals• Compilation of datasheets and exercises into an illustrated

manual• Low-cost printing of manuals in English (if sufficient funds

can be found manual will be translated into other languages)

• Promotion of manual at appropriate international events

Proposed work

Weed Management Exercises8.

Growing sustainable oil palm2.

Disease Management Exercises7.

Insect Management Exercises6.

Agro-Ecosystem Analysis5.

Discovery Based Exercises for Training of Trainers Courses and Farmer Field Schools

Part II

Beneficials Fact Sheets5.

Disease Fact Sheets4.

Pest Fact Sheets3.

Introduction to the crop1.

General IntroductionPart I

Suggested manual outline

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Example pest or disease fact sheet

Importance

Geographic distribution with map

Description - with photographs

Ecology

Pest management

Suggested exercises

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Example beneficials fact sheet (predators)

Important predator groups

List of major predators and the pests they attack

Description of major predators- with photographs

Suggested exercises

Objective: To learn more about the situation in the field and get a clear understanding of the occurrence of insect pests, diseases and natural enemies.

Agro-Ecosystem Analysis (AESA)

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• How to collect and recognise insect pathogen groups• Role play on insecticide resistance• Effect of pesticides on spiders and other natural enemies

• Comparison of biological and chemical pesticides used in pest control

• Measuring the parasitism level of pests• Assessment of impact of ground-dwelling predators• Life cycle of pests and parasitoids• Importance of flowers as food source to adult parasitoids• Direct observations of consumption rates of predators in the field• Studying predators in the field• Sampling for arthropods with sticky board• Collecting, preserving and culturing insect natural enemies

Example Exercises

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What we needPartnersFor example:

– Malaysian Palm Oil Promotion Council, Malaysia– Malaysian Palm Oil Board, Malaysia– FELDA, Malaysia– Directorate General of Estate Crop Production,

MOA, Indonesia– IOPRI, Indonesia– Cenipalma, Colombia– ASD, Costa Rica– PNG OPRA, Papua New Guinea– CIRAD, France

What we needFunding• Outline budget US$55,000• includes compilation of data sheets, production

of exercises, validation by experts, printing and production costs plus distribution costs.

As a sign of commitment CAB International will give US$15,000 to “kick start” project.To ensure success of project, a commitment from sponsors to fund balance of US$40,000 is sought.