This webinar will discuss current knowledge concerning the potential use of agroecological approaches in the fall armyworm (FAW) response, highlighting experiences from parts of Africa, South America and South Asia. Agroecological approaches offer culturally appropriate, low cost options for managing pests through promoting plant health and enhancing the pest control services of natural enemies. There are three basic pillars to agroecological approaches: (i) management of healthy plants; (ii) enhancing the biodiversity of the agricultural environment; and, (iii) specific cultural interventions. Speakers will describe experiences from India, Malawi, and Zambia concerning the evaluation of various agroecological strategies, such as conservation biological control for FAW management. Barriers to adoption of these approaches and how these may be overcome will also be discussed. An overview of the evidence base for social wasps as biocontrol agents – including recent experimental evidence of the potential of social wasps as control agents of FAW in semi-natural conditions in Brazil – will conclude the webinar.

Speakers

• Dr. N. Bakthavatsalam is Director-In-Charge of ICAR-National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources, based in Bangalore. 
• Dr. Rhett Harrison is a Senior Landscape Ecologist at World Agroforestry (ICRAF) and is based in Zambia.
• Dr Seirian Sumner is a Reader in Behavioural Ecology at University College London.