Announcements Are you producing a newsletter, holding a meeting, running an organization or rearing a natural enemy that you want other biocontrol workers to know about? Send us the details and we will announce it in BNI. Good Deal from CABI CommoditiesCoffee Futures and Coffee Farmers Eighteen months ago BNI announced the publication of Coffee Futures*, a stimulating and informative sourcebook, which deals with some of the critical issues facing the international coffee industry at the start of the twenty-first century. This book is now available with a free Manual for Collaborative Research with Smallholder Coffee Farmers** for just US$28. Published to coincide with the 2001 World Coffee Conference in London, Coffee Futures' purpose was to inform and stimulate discussion on contemporary issues affecting the coffee industry. With contributions from 20 international experts from the full spectrum of the industry, each chapter outlines the latest thinking on a range of topics. Technical developments such as mechanical harvesting and GM coffee are assessed. Coffee diseases and health implications for human consumers are outlined, together with measures farmers/producers can take to minimize the contaminants. Of particular interest to BNI readers, there is a strong emphasis on the future prospects for coffee smallholders. Economic problems and gaps in knowledge are identified. The roles of a variety of measures from participatory research to telecentres in plugging the gaps are examined. What is meant by 'sustainable' is explained in the context of coffee production, and illustrated by describing some of the methods used for raising healthy coffee and managing pests and diseases. Coffee diseases are seen as a particular threat, and these are dealt with in detail. Some possible ways forward are considered for those who hope to continue making a living from coffee, including speciality, organic and biodiversity friendly production. Finally, the role of smallholder coffee in biodiversity conservation is highlighted. The Manual for Collaborative Research with Smallholder Coffee Farmers was produced out of a Common Fund for Commodities funded project, which aimed to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly ways of controlling the world's most serious coffee pest, coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei). New methods are of no use if not adopted and the intention of this manual is to explain some of the principles and practices of new 'participatory' ways of working with farmers to those interested in improving the situation of smallholder coffee farmers, especially in the context of the secular, global change the sector is facing. *Baker, P.S. (ed) (2001) Coffee futures: a sourcebook of some critical issues confronting the coffee industry. Cenicafé, Colombia/CAB International , UK; The Commodities Press, 111 pp. Pbk. ISBN 958 33 2356 X **Bentley, J.W., Baker, P.S. (2002) Manual for collaborative research with smallholder coffee farmers. Cenicafé, Colombia/CABI International , UK; The Commodities Press, 131 pp. Pbk Tree crops are increasingly being protected by agrochemicals, endangering the environment and human health. This manual* provides practical tips on making optimal use of the beneficial weaver ant (Oecophylla smaragdina) in tree crops, based on improved insights of underlying ecological principles. Dr Paul Van Mele, a farmer participatory research and extension specialist at CABI Bioscience, and Dr Nguyen Thi Thu Cuc, an entomologist at the Cantho University, Vietnam, have combined the rich sources of scientific and farmers' knowledge into this manual. It will appeal in particular to university students, NGO workers, extension staff and all those engaged in communicating science to farmers. *Van Mele, P.; Cuc, N.T.T. (2003) Ants as friends. Improving your tree crops with weaver ants. The Commodities Press, 67 pp. All books available from:
Simon Lea, CABI Bioscience (UK Centre),
Bakeham Lane, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9TY, UK Managing Bushland WeedsLimited numbers of this Australian book* are available, which will be of particular interest to those in Mediterranean climates doing on-ground weed control in remnant vegetation. Funded by the Natural Heritage Trust (NHT) and the Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Weed Management, it is the result of 4 years work on this topic by Environmental Weed Action Network (EWAN) staff, providing information on biological features of weeds and control methods. *Brown, K.; Brooks, K. (2003) Bushland weeds, a practical guide to their management. Perth, Western Australia; EWAN, 108 pp. Price: A$38.50 + p&p Orders: Wildflower Society of
Western Australia, P.O. Box 64, Nedlands, Slugs and Snails MeetingThe meeting `Slugs and Snails - Agricultural, Veterinary & Environmental Perspectives' will be held on 8-9 September 2003 at Christ Church University College, Canterbury, UK. It will consider issues of pest control relating to slugs and snails on land and in water. Experience of both farmers and researchers will provide the basis for discussion. More general aspects of conservation and biodiversity will also be relevant, as will newer methodologies of molecular biology. Slugs and snails can cause enormous amounts of economic, medical and veterinary damage to human societies. Modern reduced-tilling methods of agriculture can promote the development of high populations of slugs in crop fields and even resistant crops such as maize and turnip can suffer 20% reductions. The aquatic golden apple snail has become a serious pest, destroying rice, maize and citrus crops in the Philippines, and in Taiwan US$2 million is spent annually to control snails on 100,000 ha of paddy fields. Aquatic snails spread diseases such as liver and blood flukes in many parts of the world. In China, after the completion of the Three Gorges Dam, 58 million people will be at risk of new infection by snail-borne diseases which have a secondary host in water buffalo.
Further information is on the BCPC website: www.bcpc.org/Events/Slugs&Snails/index.htm Or contact: Prof Georges
Dussart, Symposium Chairman, Ecology Research Group, Canterbury Christ
Church University College, North Holmes Road, Canterbury, Kent CT1 1QU,
UK Latin American Fungi and Entomopathogenic NematodesA Latin American symposium on fungi and entomopathogenic nematodes is being held on 18-22 August 2003 at the Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Speakers will include Robin J. Stuart (University of Florida, USA), Edwin E. Lewis (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA), Nigel Hywel-Jones (BIOTEC, Pathumthani, Thailand), and Carlos Peres da Silva and Richard I. Samuels (Universidade Estadual do Norte Flumenense). Contact: Prof. Dr. Richard I.
Samuels Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Symbiotic BacteriaThe 3rd International Symposium on Entomopathogenic Nematodes and Symbiotic Bacteria will be held on 4-7 September 2003 at Ohio State University, Wooster, USA. It is being organized by Harry K. Kaya (University of California), Heidi Goodrich-Blair (University of Wisconsin), Steve Forst (University of Wisconsin) and Susan Forst (Marion College). Contact: Parwinder Grewal,
Department of Entomology, Ohio State University, Eradication of Island InvasivesThe Proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives is now available for purchase*. The conference, which was held at the University of Auckland, New Zealand in February 2001, attracted 52 papers and 21 abstracts focusing on methods used and results achieved, and covered a wide spectrum of methods. The term 'eradicating' included work to remove invasive species where complete eradication was some, or many, years away but the methods used were achieving positive results or providing a significant learning experience. The term 'island' included true islands, natural habitat islands, remnant and artificial habitat islands, or new invasions of natural ecosystems where eradication is deemed feasible. Significant learning experiences included methods that had failed. Turning the tide of biological invasion by eradicating invasive species can yield substantial benefits for biodiversity conservation. As more eradications are attempted worldwide, it is increasingly important that lessons are learned from each and every one of these attempts, whether successful or unsuccessful. By bringing together all the papers and abstracts from the conference in this book, the publishers are making the insights and practical experience gained on combating the threat of invasive alien species available to a wider audience. *Veitch, C.R; Clout, M.N. (eds) (2002) Turning the tide: the eradication of invasive species. Proceedings of the International Conference on Eradication of Island Invasives, University of Auckland, New Zealand, February 2001. Cambridge, UK; IUCN Publications Services, 424 pp. Cost: UK£24.50/US$36.75. ISBN 2 8317 0682 3 See website for book contents and abstracts, postage costs and ordering details: Or contact: IUCN Publications
Services Unit, 219c Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 0DL, UK African Mycological Association RevivalThe African Mycological Association (AMA) promotes mycology through contact amongst members in Africa and abroad, and also in organizing regional congresses. A current aim is to hold the 5th African Mycology Conference (RMC5) in South Africa in 2005 in conjunction with the 43rd Southern African Society for Plant Pathology (SASPP) Congress and the 4th International Workshop on Grapevine Trunk Diseases (jointly organized by the International Council on Grapevine Trunk Diseases). The AMA has recently launched a website which aims to revitalize the society and to increase the potential for regional and international collaboration by providing a members' directory and highlighting the research activities throughout the region. See: At the present time, the society is updating membership details to enable them to create the on-line directory, and is calling for members to fill in a questionnaire and provide other relevant information. Contact: Joanne E. Taylor,
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag
UB 00704, Gaborone, Botswana Water Hyacinth Ups and DownsWith regret, the organizers announce the cancellation of the 3rd meeting of the IOBC (International Organization for Biological Control of Noxious Animals and Plants) Global Working Group for the Biological and Integrated Control of Water Hyacinth, which had been planned for Uganda this August. On the bright side, there is a new website at: This has not only information about the Working Group but also pages on water hyacinth biology, its weed impact and management, recent and on-going research, and photos of the weed and its natural enemies, together with downloadable pdf files of the proceedings of previous workshops. Contact: Martin Hill,
Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, P.O. Box 94,
Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa |
