Activities
- Locust Rearing
- Reduced Dosage Technologies
- Analysis of Current Practices
- Operator Monitoring
- Monitoring Domestic Animals
- Environmental Impact
- The Use of GPS
- DGPS Track Guidance Systems
- Data Management
- Novel Spraying Platforms
- Physical Model
- Biological Model
Reduced Dosage Technologies
The overall objective of the project is to develop technologies and systems of pesticide use that will allow a reduction of the quantities of pesticide used for Desert Locust control.
Research and development focus on two main areas :
Improving pesticide application techniques
Defining the minimum dosage required for adequate control of Desert Locust
In terms of improved application techniques, the project is currently involved in developing and testing track guidance systems that will allow better application; testing and improving application equipment; and developing standard operating procedures and training methods that are relevant to field conditions.
In terms of defining the minimum dosage required for adequate control of Desert Locust, this is approached in two ways. Whenever possible, field trials are undertaken on locust populations in the field - to date about 40 small scale trials have been undertaken, but there have been no significant field populations of Desert Locust that have permitted large scale trials.
In the absence of field populations, research is undertaken using locusts from the rearing facility. A two model approach is used. In the laboratory, tests are undertaken to define the optimum dosage in terms of concentration, droplet number and droplet size (this is known as the biological model). In the field, trials are conducted using simulated pesticide to define the opitmum way of achiveing the target deposit (the physical model).
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GCP/INT/651/NOR A project funded by Norway and executed by FAO |
