
Building resilience in Kenya’s fall armyworm management strategies
26/03/2025
Like many other tropical countries, Kenya faces fall armyworm infestations, with maize crops recording high levels of infestations during the growing season. The FAO-China South-South Cooperation Programme conducted a refresher training to equip Kenya’s plant protection officers and extension officers with skills and tools to manage fall armyworm sustainably.

Desert Locust Information Officers: FAO strengthen capacities of Iran and Pakistan, introduces innovation
20/03/2025
Iran and Pakistan are gearing up for the upcoming spring locust breeding season. To enhance preparedness, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is boosting the capabilities of Desert Locust Information Officers (DLIOs) in both countries. DLIOs are responsible for collecting field data, analyzing it, and producing monthly bulletins that summarize the locust situation and provide forecasts.

Fall Armyworm in Ghana: FAO strengthens sustainable pest management through South-South Cooperation
14/03/2025
The FAO-China South-South Cooperation (SSC) Project has facilitated training of over 20 national plant protection and extension officers in Ghana, empowering them to sustainably manage Fall Armyworm (FAW) and, in turn, strengthen the country’s resilience against this destructive pest.

FAO strengthening Oman’s Biosecurity framework with integrated biosecurity index tool
07/03/2025
As Oman is keen to strengthen its capacity to address climate change and emerging biological threats, the country welcomed the integrated biosecurity index tool (IBI) developed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The tool will support Oman’s efforts to enhance its regulatory systems, assess biosecurity risks and develop effective response measures.

Desert locust guidelines: Balancing effective locust control with environmental and human safety
13/02/2025

11th Session of Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region highlights growing commitment to combat desert locust threat
13/02/2025
At the 11th Session, member countries of the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Western Region (CLCPRO) lauded the significant progress made in the collective fight against desert locust threats across the region. The Commission enhances national locust management capabilities while integrating advanced technologies.

Combatting desert locust in India: FAO strengthens monitoring and forecasting capacities
18/12/2024

Protecting people and planet - FAO's approach to locust management
02/12/2024

Managing desert locust threat requires increased regional cooperation, investments, and digital innovations
24/11/2024
The 33rd Session and 37th Executive Committee Meeting of the FAO Commission for Controlling the Desert Locust in the Central Region (CRC) have opened in Kuwait, with call for increased regional cooperation, greater investments, and the adoption of digital innovations to effectively manage desert locusts.

University of Florence students gain insights into FAO’s global fight against transboundary plant pests and diseases
21/11/2024
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) hosted students from the University of Florence, showcasing its efforts to protect and promote sustainable food systems. Through thematic sessions, postgraduate students from the Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment, and Forestry explored FAO's work on managing transboundary plant pests, pesticide safety, international plant health standards and global cooperation for sustainable agriculture.

FAO and Central Asian and Caucasus countries to develop a regional platform and knowledge hub for applied agricultural research
15/11/2024
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Türkiye jointly organized two virtual consultation meetings to identify emerging research themes and developing a platform and knowledge hub for agricultural research and innovation in Central Asia and the Caucasus.

Collaboration between South Countries to Combat Fall Armyworm
09/11/2024

Uganda to manage pesticide stores using Locust Pesticide Management System
04/11/2024

Annual technical meeting on locusts in the Caucasus and Central Asia takes stock of the national anti-locust campaign, plans future activities
15/11/2024
The fifteenth technical workshop on locusts in Caucasus and Central Asia discussed lessons learnt from the 2024 national anti-locust campaign and preparations of the next campaign. The event provided a platform for exchange of knowledge and information on locust management.

Successful conclusion of regional project paves the way for enhanced management of the red palm weevil
31/10/2024
The 'SusaHamra' application, highlighted among the key achievements during the programme's closure on red palm weevil eradication, is streamlining management processes for the pest in countries that have adopted the system.

Steering Committee evaluates first-year success of the master's programme in Locust Management Science
10/10/2024
The Steering Committee noted progress made in the implementation of the master’s (MSc) programme on Locust Management Science currently hosted at the Institut Agronomique et Vétérinaire Hassan II (IAV) in Agadir, Morocco. Initiated in 2023, the MSc programme aims to enhance and upgrade the skills, knowledge, and competencies of young locust control officers.
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Strengthening the preparedness of West and Central Africa to control banana bunch top virus and banana Fusarium wilt
15/09/2024
The spread of banana bunchy top disease (BBTD) and Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4 (TR4) in Central and Western African regions poses a serious threat to economic growth and sustainable development. FAO is supporting countries to improve their emergency preparedness to limit the spread and introduction of the two diseases to unaffected areas, through awareness-raising and the development of contingency plans.

Rebuilding Kenya’s defense against desert locust: Refreshing the former Young Professionals
30/07/2024

Uganda: Refresher training enhances desert locust management preparedness
22/07/2024
A team of agricultural officers in Uganda has undergone refresher training on desert locust survey and reporting. The participants had previously received basic training during the 2020–2022 desert locust campaign. Although Uganda is currently free of desert locusts, the country remains vulnerable to potential invasions.

FAO marks 30 years of success in fighting transboundary pests and diseases
25/09/2024
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) commemorated the 30th anniversary of its Emergency Prevention System (EMPRES). The special side event “Towards a sustainable future: Leading the fight against transboundary pests and diseases” recognized EMPRES's crucial role in responding to devastating locust swarms, preventing the spread of emerging livestock and zoonotic diseases, and containing plant pathogens.