\n\t\tBy sharing science-based knowledge about crop health, CABI helps smallholder farmers to grow more and lose less, increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods\n\t<\/h2>\n\n\t\tThe challenge\n\t<\/h3>\n\t
With global challenges like climate change making it increasingly difficult for smallholder farmers living in poor rural communities to grow and sell food, sharing knowledge about crop health has never been more important.<\/p>\n
The world’s 800 million smallholder farmers produce most of the world’s food, but the majority live in poor and vulnerable rural communities where they often lack access to science-based information about crop health.<\/p>\n
\n\t\tProviding solutions\n\t<\/h3>\n\t
Working with our donors and partners, we help share knowledge about integrated crop management and plant health with smallholder farmers to help them grow more and lose less.<\/p>\n
For example, the CABI-led PlantwisePlus programme improves farmers’ yields and incomes while reducing the use of toxic pesticides. Through the programme, we also help countries improve their plant health systems, so that they can prevent and manage pest outbreaks more effectively.<\/p>\n
We have successfully increased plant health knowledge and helped farmers across the world grow healthier crops using natural solutions such as biopesticides and biological control<\/a> <\/strong>of crop pests, helping them to use fewer chemical pesticides and implement more agricultural best practice.<\/p>\n The CABI-led PlantwisePlus<\/strong> programme<\/strong> <\/a>increases food security and improves rural livelihoods by reducing crop losses. Since its launch, Plantwise has supported over 30 million smallholder farmers around the world with crop and plant health knowledge.<\/p>\n\t We work with donors and partners to deliver projects in integrated crop management (ICM)<\/strong><\/a>, combining a variety of practices in, for example, pest and soil health management, helping farmers to grow better crops.<\/p>\n\t Access to healthy seeds and soil<\/strong> is essential for smallholder farmers in developing countries. We help make high-quality seeds available and share information about organic fertilisers and good soil health practices or Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM).<\/p>\n For more information and enquiries about our expertise in crop health, please get in touch.<\/p>\n\t\n Executive Director, Global Operations<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t T: +41 (0) 32 4214882 E: u.kuhlmann@cabi.org<\/a><\/p>\n\t\t\n Read about the variety of work CABI delivers, and the difference we make<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n Explore our recent projects from around the world<\/p>\n\t\t\n Agriculture is extremely important to Pakistan’s economy and people. It is the largest sector, employing over 40% of the workforce and contributing approximately 24% to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP). However, the increase in demand for food is being challenged by low agricultural productivity due to losses caused by crop pests and diseases. To overcome these problems, there is an overreliance on pesticides which have caused food safety issues due to excessive pesticide residues. Pakistan is therefore focusing on sustainable pest management and ecosystem conservation. Working with CABI and partners, Pakistan has approved biopesticide registration guidelines to promote environmentally friendly pest control products.<\/p>\n\t\t\n Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) technology offers enormous potential by addressing information asymmetries and rapidly advancing research. In the agriculture sector, it can localize digital advisory messages and increase the accessibility of such messages to reduce the digital divide compared to traditional, non-AI communication methods. Using natural language processing (NLP) and large language models (LLMs) offers new potential to disseminate complex scientific information more widely, in local dialects and through various formats, transforming accessibility. This project will explore the potential to deliver advisories based on CABI’s highly curated and expert-validated resources to plant doctors and other agriculture advisors via Generative AI chatbot technology, and the data governance and licensing necessary to ensure the quality of such advisories.<\/p>\n\t\t\n Wheat Blast (Magnaporthe oryzae Triticum or ‘MOT’) is a plant disease of global concern, threatening crop production and biosecurity. Known to favour humid, warmer climates, the disease is a severe problem in Bangladesh and South America. However, the consequences of climate change pose the risk of the disease infecting other wheat-growing areas. Coupled with its ability to spread rapidly through the air and seeds, Wheat Blast’s devastating effects and limited control options are leading to heavy yield losses and it is now a threat to global food security. This project brings together a project consortium, formed of experts in Earth observation, remote sensing, pest and disease modelling, datasets and information dissemination to produce Wheat Blast risk maps and actionable advice as part of a framework. The framework will be used by key stakeholders as part of a targeted management approach to the disease.<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore Projects\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n Papers and other publications that we hope you find enlightening<\/p>\n\t\n DOI https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.cropro.2024.106743<\/a><\/p>\n\t Type Journal article<\/strong><\/p>\n\t Published in Crop Protection, 182<\/strong><\/p>\n\t Language English<\/strong><\/p>\n Year 2024<\/strong><\/p>\nGo to publication<\/a>\n\t\n DOI https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.biocontrol.2024.105528<\/a><\/p>\n\t Type Journal article<\/strong><\/p>\n\t Published in Biological Control, 193<\/strong><\/p>\n\t Language English<\/strong><\/p>\n Year 2024<\/strong><\/p>\nDownload PDF<\/a>\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore Publications\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n By sharing science-based knowledge about crop health, CABI helps smallholder farmers to grow more and lose less, increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":153221,"parent":42,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[2403],"section":[],"pathway":[],"class_list":["post-25037","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-area-of-expertise"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\t\tOur crop health expertise in more detail\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\tThe CABI-led Plantwise programme reached over 54 million smallholder farmers across the world, sharing the knowledge they need to lose less of what they grow to crop pests and diseases\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tFind out more\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n
\n\t\tKey contact\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/staff_24626-300x300.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\tCABI In Switzerland<\/a>\n\tUlrich Kuhlmann<\/a><\/h3>\n\t\t
\n\t\tStories of impact\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/17Baringo_resized-600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n Joint plant-livestock clinics reap One Health benefits for farmers in Kenya and Uganda<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/DSC_1283_expanded_crop_resized-600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n Boosting the role of agro-input dealers for sustainable pest management<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_7389_resized-600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n Empowering women in Pakistan: A story of entrepreneurship and transformation<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore Stories of Impact\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n
\n\t\tRelated Projects\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
![\"Farmer](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/111_farmer-is-using-CABi-mobile-apps-in-different-events-of-wheat-crop-1200x800-1-e1728472401342-600x360.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\t\tRegistration of biopesticides in Pakistan<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CABI-600x360.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\t\tGenerative AI for Agriculture Advisory<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/iStock-187019474-600x360.jpg\")
\n <\/figure>\n\t\tWheat Blast: Earth observation and climate forecasts for risk management<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\t
\n\t\tFeatured Publications\n\t<\/h2>\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Screenshot-2024-07-23-123735-223x300.png\"\/)
<\/a>\n Level of damage and yield losses associated with the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) on maize (Zea mays), millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) on station in Burkina Faso<\/a><\/h5>\n \n
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Unleashing-224x300.png\"\/)
<\/a>\n Unleashing nature’s defenders: Farmer-managed natural enemies field reservoirs (NEFRs) enhance management of the invasive papaya mealybug (Paracoccus marginatus) in coastal Kenya<\/a><\/h5>\n \n
\n\t\tNews and Blogs\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tMore News\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n
\n\t\tOther areas of expertise\n\t<\/h2>\n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/about-cabi\/iStock-478002684-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tPublishing<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Devomms-banner-P1010791-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tDevelopment communication and extension<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-we-do\/PRISE-Illustration-for-Annual-Review-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tDigital development<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/What-we-do\/opuntia-IMG_5071-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tInvasive species<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\n\t
![](\"https:\/\/www.cabi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/International-development\/areas-of-focus\/Fruit-Seller-Woman-on-Mobile-1-e1569494404578-wpcf_600x360.jpg\")
<\/a>\n\t<\/figure>\n\tValue chains and trade<\/a><\/h3>\t \n\t\t\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat we do\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"