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Abstract:
Differences in agricultural systems in Africa on one the
hand, changes of policy environments on the other hand and the
challenges these present for plant protection are discussed. The
rapid advance of biological control in Africa in the last 15
years is highlighted, and the advantages of and opportunities
for further biological control in this region are considered.
Two successful regional projects, which took classical and
augmentative biological control approaches, respectively, are
used to illustrate how and why requirements for project
coordination vary. The first, against cassava mealybug (
Phenacoccus manihoti ), began in the early 1980s and
involved the introduction of natural enemies from South America,
while the second, against locusts, began some years later, in
1989, and led to the development of a biopesticide, Green Muscle™,
from an African fungal isolate. The differences the timing and
approach of the projects made to their implementation are
discussed in relation to the role of the African Phytosanitary
Council, acceptance of biological control, quarantine issues,
accountability, the use of indigenous or exotic natural enemies,
environmental impact of natural enemies, the Convention on
Biological Diversity, intellectual property rights,
commercialization, registration regulations, and product
stewardship.
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