Archive for July, 2016
Driving integrated vector control in the global sustainable development framework
The Aedes mosquito and other vectors of disease are currently receiving unprecedented global attention and scrutiny following recent outbreaks of infectious diseases including Zika and dengue fever and the world is looking for adequate response and a wide range of solutions to tackle these threats to global public health. Controlling these vectors successfully would not […]
Simple innovation for killing mosquito eggs
With Canadian Government funding, a team of innovators from Canada and Mexico have successfully tested a low cost, environmentally-friendly way of destroying the eggs of the mosquito genus that spreads dengue, and is likely spreading the Zika virus. The 10 month study, conducted in a remote, urban area of Guatemala, shows the successful development and […]
The role of pesticides in the SE Asian rice IPM: A view from the Mekong Delta
Abstract: Pesticide application remains an important component of rice pest management in Viêt Nam and responsible use should be integrated back into a strategy of good agricultural practices. Crucial skills that need to be fostered include: better product selection with safe and efficient application; the role of action thresholds must also be re-considered. Rice is […]
The makings of a turf weed
Professional turf is a close-knit grass sward with seemingly few openings and opportunities for invasion by weeds, but a surprisingly large number of plant species continue to invade, establish and grow. Turf weed achievement is governed by a range botanical attributes alongside breaches in turf integrity that allow these dicotyledonous (broad leaved) plants to exploit […]
Managing weeds on railway lines
The Weedfree-on-Track Spray Train was created with environmental sustainability at the forefront of its design. In an ever demanding market where companies are being driven to reduce their carbon footprint and become ‘greener’, the spray train was designed to not only achieve current demands, but to also be future proof for an ever evolving market. […]
Indoor residual spraying for mosquito control – the importance of training spray operators
Indoor residual spraying (IRS) with DDT began in the 1940’s in Sardinia where full-scale operations were carried out to control Anopheles labranchiae to control malaria. In the Italian campaign, the number of cases of malaria fell from 78,173 in 1944 to 44 in 1950. This led to WHO launching a Global Malaria Eradication Programme in […]
Cardamom – A crop cannot run away from its problems
When crops are taken from one continent to another, their pests and diseases eventually catch up with them. When there is no research capacity to respond, the farmers can have serious problems. Guatemala is poised on the edge of a disaster with cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum),a spice crop which has been grown in the Central American […]
Using pesticides in amenity areas
Using pesticides in amenity areas such as parks, golf courses and other areas open to the public has to conform to the EU regulations in a similar manner to protecting crops on farms. The main difference is that there are a diverse range of spray targets which frequently have to be treated using manually carried […]
