International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE)

Policies, programmes and activities related to biodiversity for food and agriculture

Reports from international instruments and organizations

1. Contact information

Name and position of respondent Christopher Prideaux, Director of Research

Name of organization ICIPE

E-mail of organization [email protected]

Geographical coverage of your organization Africa

2. Components of biodiversity for food and agriculture covered by your organization Note: For a complete definition refer to Annex 1 of: http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/biodiversity/guidelines/en/

Sectoral genetic resources for food and agriculture

Animal genetic resources

Aquatic genetic resources

Forest genetic resources

Plant genetic resources

Associated biodiversity of relevance to food and agriculture

Micro-organisms (including bacteria, viruses, protists and fungi)

Invertebrates (including insects, spiders, worms)

Vertebrates (including amphibians, reptiles and non-domesticated birds and mammals)

Wild and cultivated terrestrial and aquatic plants other than crop wild relatives

Page 1 of 10 Please provide details on the components of biodiversity for food and agriculture involved (species, breeds, varieties): icipe works in a variety of areas of relevance to food, agriculture and biodiversity: 1. The role of bees in the provision of pollination services; including stingless bees, honey bees and carpenter bees. 2. Insects for both human food and feed for intensive livestock production utilizing the breadth of insect biodiversity in Africa. The focal areas for study are Kenya and Uganda and the range of insects being investigated include A. domesticus, Anaphe panda, B. dorsalis, B. invadens, B. mori, B. membranaceus, Bunaea alcinoe, C. vomitoria, Cameraria ohridella, C. cosyra, Corcyra cephalonica, Deanolis sublimbalis, Gonimbrasia belina, Gonimbrasia zambesia, Gynanisa maiya, G. bimaculatus, H. illucens, Macrotermes subhylanus, Melanocera menippe, Nudaurelia krucki, P. Americana, R. differens, R. nitidula, S. gregaria and S. littoralis.

3. Integrated pest management as alternatives to the use of broad spectrum synthetic pesticides for the control of insect pests. Components of icipe’s IPM programs include; a range of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids) and fungal based biopesticides as alternatives to broad spectrum synthetic chemicals for the control of indigenous and invasive insect pests. For example several biocontrol-based IPM technologies for fruit and vegetable pests have been researched, developed and disseminated by icipe, and our partners (including the private sector): 1) attractants and biopesticides for invasive thrips, 2) exotic parasitoids and biopesticides for cruciferous pests, 3) attractants, biopesticides, field sanitation and parasitoids for invasive fruit flies, 4) biopesticides and predatory mites for invasive spider mites, 5) pheromones, bio-pesticides especially NPV for African fruit borer infesting tomato and, 6) resistant cultivars, pheromone, parasitoids and biopesticides for amaranth leaf webber & stem weevil. 4. Integrated cropping systems as integrated pest and weed management system. icipe’s flagship project push-pull is an integrated cropping system for maize and other cereals to control striga weed and stem borers. In addition the technology also serves to improve soil health (Nitrogen and bio-available phosphorus), improve water retention, and minimize land degradation as well as providing high quality fodder for livestock production.

PRIORITY AREA 1: ASSESSMENT AND MONITORING

1. Does your organization implement or support the implementation of projects or programmes that contribute to the assessment of the status of biodiversity for food and agriculture?

Yes

No If yes, please provide details on the countries and species involved and indicate whether the population trends of these species are monitored:

In the development of IPM strategies for indigenous and invasive pests, icipe strives to understand the biology, ecology and diversity of key insect groups. Our focus is to understand the biodiversity of both the pests (eg. Fruit flies, Thrips, Stem borers) and their natural enemies such as predators and parasitoids. The outcomes of such an approach support the development of ecologically sustainable pest management strategies.

2. Is your organization involved in surveying and monitoring population sizes of and/or threats to associated biodiversity species that are known to contribute to regulating or supporting ecosystem services in and around agricultural and food production systems?

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries and species and ecosystem services involved:

Page 2 of 10

icipe conducts work on the health status of bees and the presence of pathogens and predators that may have an impact on bee pollination services in both agricultural regions as well as within natural habitats such as forest areas. icipe has active bee health projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Liberia , Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mauritius , Madagascar, Yemen. The bee species involved range across stingless bees, honey bees and carpenter bees.

A key area of icipe’s research is understanding the impact and management of invasive insect pests which have the potential to threaten biodiversity within an invaded area.

3. Is your organization involved in surveying and monitoring population sizes of and/or threats to wild food species?

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries and species involved:

icipe's insects for food and feed program surveys edible insect species present and indigenous knowledge relating to edible insects. The program is active in Uganda and Kenya and the range of insects being investigated include A. domesticus, Anaphe panda, B. dorsalis, B. invadens, B. mori, B. membranaceus, Bunaea alcinoe, C. vomitoria, Cameraria ohridella, C. cosyra, Corcyra cephalonica, Deanolis sublimbalis, Gonimbrasia belina, Gonimbrasia zambesia, Gynanisa maiya, G. bimaculatus, H. illucens, Macrotermes subhylanus, Melanocera menippe, Nudaurelia krucki, P. Americana, R. differens, R. nitidula, S. gregaria and S. littoralis.

4. Has your organization identified major obstacles to assessing and monitoring components of biodiversity for food and agriculture that are part of its mandate?

Yes

If yes, please list these obstacles, being as specific as possible regarding the species involved:

5. What are the priority measures that need to be taken to address these obstacles?

6. Please describe any additional activities relevant to the implementation of Priority area 1: Assessment and monitoring

Page 3 of 10

PRIORITY AREA 2: CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABLE USE

Conservation

1. Does your organization take or support actions to protect components of biodiversity for food and agriculture that are at risk from climate change, invasive alien species and natural or human-induced disasters?

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries and species involved, the actions taken, the impacts and the lessons learned:

One of the key threats to biodiversity is the extensive use of broad spectrum synthetic pesticides; the control of invasive insect pests often relies heavily on this type of intervention. icipe has established considerable experience in developing and implementing classical biological control and IPM efforts for the management of invasive pests, to reduce dependency on synthetic pesticides eg. classical biological control efforts for the management of Diamond Back Moths, Liriomyza leafminers, fruit flies, Tuta absoluta and others. Efforts are also on-going to understand the impacts of climate change on the classical biological control implemented eg. Diamondback moth and its parasitoids, Diadegma semiclausum, Cotesia plutellae; Fruitfly - egg and larval parasitoid etc.

2. Does your organization implement or support the implementation of conservation measures for associated biodiversity and/or wild food species?

In situ

Yes

Ex situ

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries, measures and species involved:

3. If your organization maintains ex situ collections of biodiversity for food and agriculture components could you please provide further information on these collections?

icipe has collections of insects and their natural enemies within its Biosystematics Unit. A repository of micro-organisms with the potential for use in the management of Arthropods is also maintained in the Arthropod pathology Unit at icipe. These natural enemies and microorganisms are a key resource in the development of IPM strategies against key insect pests.

4. Has your organization identified major obstacles to enhancing the conservation of biodiversity for food and agriculture, and in particular of associated biodiversity and wild foods? Page 4 of 10

Yes

If yes, please provide details:

5. What are the priority measures that need to be taken to address these obstacles?

Sustainable use

6. Does your organization promote management practices that support the maintenance and use of biodiversity for food and agriculture? Note: For examples of such practices, please refer to Annexes 5 and 6 of http://www.fao.org/nr/cgrfa/biodiversity/guidelines/en/

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries and practices involved:

Management of insects: icipe promotes the use of fungal biopesticides as an alternative to broad scale synthetic pesticides which serves to promote and support biodiversity within agricultural production areas. These biopesticides also form a component of the Centers IPM work which also includes the use of parasitoids, baits and lures, traps, and orchard sanitization. icipe's biopesticides are available in a number of African countries through a private public partnership with plans to expand the territories the product is available in to Asia, Europe and Northern America. icipe's "push-pull" technology is an integrated plant nutrient system as well as an IPM program. The technology is based on the inter-cropping of cereal crops with legumes and grasses which serve to reduce stem borer attack and striga weed infestation, two of the major limiting factors to cereal production in Africa. Push-pull also plays a role in increasing soil nutrient levels and water content. The technology is also an example of sustainable soil management, conservation agriculture and low external input agriculture. Push-pull has been adopted in Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Somalia, and Uganda. Pollination services: the Center has a portfolio of research that aims to promote bee health and therefore improve pollination services in both forest areas and agricultural regions. icipe has active bee health projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Madagascar, Liberia , Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mauritius , Madagascar, Yemen.

7. Does your organization promote the application of ecosystem, landscape and/or seascape approaches?

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries and approaches involved:

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icipe technologies promote and support the management of biodiversity within landscapes through the promotion of IPM including fungal based biopesticides and parasitoids as alternatives to the use of broad spectrum chemical insecticides. icipe's biopesticides are available in a number of African countries through a private public partnership with plans to expand the territories the product is available in to Asia, Europe and Northern America. icipe's work on developing and promoting bees to support pollination services has landscape and ecosystem wide impacts. icipe has active bee projects in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Ethiopia , Madagascar, Liberia , Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Zanzibar, Seychelles, Mauritius , Madagascar, Yemen.

8. Does your organization implement or support the implementation of projects or programmes on the use of biodiversity for food and agriculture to cope with climate change, invasive alien species, or natural or human-made disasters?

Yes

If yes, please provide details:

icipe studies the impact of climate change on insect populations and natural predator composition as a means of understanding the dynamics and risks associated with insect infestations on agricultural production under various climate change scenarios.

9. Does your organization implement or support the implementation of projects or programmes on the maintenance and use of traditional knowledge of associated biodiversity and wild foods?

Yes

If yes, please provide details:

icipe has a program of research aimed at utilizing traditional knowledge on, and biodiversity of insects as both human food as well as feed for intensively reared livestock such as fish and chickens.

10. Has your organization identified any major obstacles to improving the sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture, and in particular of associated biodiversity and wild foods?

Yes

If yes, please list and describe them:

The lack of a consistent regulatory framework across the continent hinders the rapid implementation of biocontrol efforts; for example registration of biocontrol products is not streamlined within the region. Agricultural products in Africa that are destined for export to developed country markets may be produced under different conditions than those for local consumption; for example minimal residue levels and withholding periods for synthetic pesticides. Market requirements for developed countries support and drive the adoption of IPM whilst those for local consumption do not provide the same incentives for IPM adoption. The development and institutionalization of regional standards for crop production and agricultural products for all markets would support the implementation of conservation practices such as IPM and classical biological control. One of the key requirements for the implementation of classical biological control efforts is capacity among the national agricultural extension systems to train and support producers in their efforts to adopt the technology. The capacity and resources of extension services within African countries is limited and can be an obstacle to sustainable, wide spread technology adoption.

Page 6 of 10 11. What are the priority measures that need to be taken to address these obstacles?

The harmonization of policies, and the development and implementation of regional standards, relating to the production and processing of agricultural products.

Access and benefit-sharing

12. Does your organization contribute to the development of mechanisms to improve access to and ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of biodiversity for food and agriculture?

Yes

If yes, please provide details on the countries, mechanisms and species involved:

icipe engages rural communities in our work programs with the aim of developing sustainable activities that enable communities to both benefit from the technology as well as share in any resources generated. Rural communities are active in icipe's insects for food and feed project and will be involved in the production of insects for markets. Similarly, icipe’s portfolio of projects on community based honey production, which takes advantage of plant biodiversity in the area, has both direct benefits to communities form the production and sale of honey as well as indirect benefits through increased pollination rates.

13. Please describe any additional activities relevant to the implementation of Priority area 2: Conservation and sustainable use.

PRIORITY AREA 3: POLICIES, INSTITUTIONS AND CAPACITY

1. Does your organization support countries in developing, reviewing and adjusting their national policies affecting the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for food and agriculture, and in particular of associated biodiversity and wild foods?

Yes

If yes, please provide details and specify the countries involved:

2. Does your organization contribute to the development of regulatory frameworks or legislation for biodiversity for food and agriculture, and in particular for associated biodiversity, wild foods and ecosystem services?

Yes

Page 7 of 10 No

If yes, please provide details and specify the countries or regions involved:

icipe is supporting countries in developing policies related to the use of insect populations for both food and feed for intensive livestock (fish and poultry). This is a new area of commercial agriculture for most countries and there is a need to develop suitable regulatory frameworks and legislation to ensure food safety and sustainable resource utilization. Countries engaged include Kenya and Uganda. icipe also supports the development of policy relating to IPM and alternatives to synthetic pesticide use through the provision of scientific results to underpin technology adoption.

3. Does your organization collaborate with other stakeholders involved in the management of biodiversity for food and agriculture (e.g. farmers, fisher folk, forest dwellers, the breeding industry, government agencies, research institutes and civil society organizations)?

Yes

If yes, please provide details:

icipe partners with a wide range of stakeholders across our portfolio of work including communities, national and international research organizations, the private sector, NGO's and governments.

4. Does your organization implement or support the implementation of programmes to increase public awareness on the roles and values of associated biodiversity and ecosystem services in and around food and agriculture production systems?

Yes

If yes, please provide details:

icipe engages local communities directly, and the broader general public through various media activities on our work to promote bees and their role in providing pollination services, on the benefits of IPM and intercropping systems, the potential impact of climate change on pest infestations and mitigation strategies, and the use of insect biodiversity as food and feed.

5. Does your organization implement or support the implementation of training or capacity-building programmes for the management of associated biodiversity and ecosystem services in and around food and agriculture production systems?

Yes

If yes, please provide details and specify countries involved:

icipe provides training to a wide range of stakeholders (local communities, farmers, NGO's and government agencies) on our technologies and their implementation. icipe is active in a wide range of countries across sub-Saharan Africa.

6. Has your organization identified priorities for future capacity-building and education on associated biodiversity and ecosystem services in and around food and agriculture production systems?

Yes

No Page 8 of 10 If yes, please provide details:

icipe has a range of countries in eastern, western and southern Africa identified as targets for future role out of our technologies.

7. Please describe any additional activities relevant to the implementation of Priority area 3: Policies, institutions and capacity.

PRIORITY AREA 4: REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

1. Has your organization contributed to the establishment or strengthening of regional and international research and/ or education programmes to assist countries to better manage biodiversity for food and agriculture?

Yes

Please provide details:

icipe through its capacity development programme provides a broad spectrum of training to a range of stakeholders which include; training programmes for farmers, capacity building for members of the national agricultural systems and post-graduate training to young African scientists. This cohort of trained personnel supports biodiversity efforts across the region. A specific example is The African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS). ARPPIS was established in response to the recognized need to create a sustainable critical mass of African scientists to undertake R&D work in Africa on insect and related sciences. Established in 1983 as a partnership programme between African Universities and icipe, ARPPIS provides young African scientists with PhD opportunities to conduct important R&D work in Africa on the insect pests and disease vectors affecting the continent, while also gaining the necessary skills to become globally competitive, independent research scientists.

2. Has your organization contributed to the establishment or strengthening of regional and international programmes to assist countries to obtain training and technologies or develop information systems related to biodiversity for food and agriculture and related ecosystem services?

Yes

Please provide details:

The African Bee Health Programme is a multi-agency action plan to safeguard the African Bee and enhance food security, conserve biodiversity and support pollination services across the continent. The programme is headquartered at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya with projects and partners in all 54 African nations working to secure bee health and prevent bee pests and diseases from taking root in Africa. This work is spear headed by the African Reference Laboratory for Bee Health which is housed at icipe, Nairobi, with four research satellite stations across Africa; Ethiopia, Cameroon, Liberia and Burkina. Through the Reference Lab icipe provides capacity development for the management of pollinator bee diseases and pests that impact food security.

Page 9 of 10 3. Please describe any additional activities relevant to the implementation of Priority area 4: Regional and international cooperation

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