Volume 7, Issue No. 2, 2017

From the Chair, icipe Invasive species 2 Governing Council and Africa 3 Dr Lukas Bertschinger, Dr Segenet Kelemu Chair, icipe Governing Council Director General, icipe

INSTITUTIONAL NEWS NEW FUNDING icipe designated OIE Collaborating Pollinator Information Centre for Bee Health in Africa 5 Network for sub-Saharan IDRC Board of Governors visit 6 two-winged 8 icipe Technology Transfer Unit Push-Pull for 5 launched 6 8 sub-Saharan Africa 8 THRiVE annual general meeting 7 MUSA – sustainable World Malaria Day 7 control of key banana pests and diseases 8 icipe – KALRO MoA 7

sh-Pu RECENTLY PUBLISHED Pu ll RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Jewel wasps 9 Enhancing tsetse management 10 Push-Pull 100th Fall Armyworm 10 9 publication 9 10 Aferia capacity building 11 Bee pest risk mapping 9 Rothamsted International Fellowship 11 Root-knot nematodes p u n Women empowerment research awarded 11 blicatio

icipe IN ETHIOPIA CAPACITY BUILDING National Sericulture AND INSTITUTIONAL Development Strategy 12 DEVELOPMENT 12 White mango scale 13 Recent graduates and workshop 12 thesis defences 13

icipe IN PICTURES icipe Director General meets UN Secretary General 15 STAFF NEWS AAS-AESA visit 15 Appointments 16 15 Visit by Prof. Andrew Campbell, 16 Chief Executive Officer, ACIAR 15

icipe BY NUMBERS 35 600 3,566 620 Peer reviewed journal Farmers currently using Current beneficiaries of Media mentions articles (April – June 2017) tsetse repellent collars the Young technology Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey Project

[email protected] www.icipe.org @icipe facebook.com/icipe.insects FROM THE CHAIR, icipe GOVERNING COUNCIL

Dr Lukas Bertschinger, Chair, icipe Governing Council

Dear Colleagues and Friends of icipe, towards management of the destructive invasive Fall Armyworm. The topic of invasive species and We are extremely pleased to bring you an update strategies for reducing Africa’s vulnerability, is of of icipe’s activities over the past four months (April great concern to icipe, and is indeed the focus – July 2017). of the Director General’s Thought Leadership column. During this period we were most honoured to welcome a number of visitors representing the In this bulletin, we celebrate colleagues from Centre’s donors and collaborators. Such visits the Push-Pull programme, who, in partnership are important to us, as they re-emphasise our with Rothamsted Research, UK, have recently partnerships and also provide a chance to published their 100th peer reviewed journal article. discuss new and innovative, Other publications highlighted science-led strategies to icipe embraces alert to in this report include results improve livelihoods across that provide promising Africa. Among those who its unique position as a leads for the development visited are: the Board of the world class leader in of ecofriendly strategies to Governors of the International control root-knot nematodes; science. We are pleased Research Development Centre and the description of new (IDRC); and colleagues from that our partners and wasps, a part of icipe’s the Alliance for Accelerating collaborators continue to ongoing contribution of Excellence in Science in Africa much needed knowledge to (AESA) and African Academy recognise, and to support the global taxonomy hub on of Sciences (AAS). our mission. smaller organisms.

We also received Dr Jean icipe’s research portfolio Philippe-Dop, Deputy Director General, OIE – continues to expand, some of the latest additions World Organisation for Health. This visit being a study on endophytes and biocontrol came in the wake of the confirmation of icipe’s agents against key pests and diseases of banana, designation as an OIE Collaborating Centre for and on dipteran pollinators from the Afrotropics. Bee Health in Africa. This is delightful news that re-affirms our role as a hub of bee health expertise I would like to strongly acknowledge support from in Africa and globally. Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development, Switzerland, our longstanding partner, which has Our unique position as a world class leader in enabled us to establish a Technology Transfer insect science is an aspect that we continue Unit. As a result, we are now able to assign the to embrace, as is visibly emphasized by our role of technology dissemination to a dedicated, participation in key global and regional initiatives. appropriately skilled team, thus increasing our Notably, in April, we joined the international ability to reach even more end users. community in commemorating the World Malaria Day, asserting our commitment to the control of We thank all our donors, partners and staff, this deadly disease. We have also strengthened our and anticipate that you will enjoy reading this involvement in the development of the sericulture publication. industries in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Significantly, together with partners and Dr Lukas Bertschinger, stakeholders, we have initiated a range of activities Chair, icipe Governing Council

[email protected] 2 www.icipe.org THOUGHT LEADERSHIP COLUMN BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

Invasive species and Africa Dr Segenet Kelemu Director General, icipe

ack in the 1950s, Charles Elton, a serious postharvest pest capable of icipe research on invasive species an English ecologist and zoologist, reducing stored grains to pulp, which was Bintroduced the term “invasion” to The Fall Armyworm, a hazard that icipe introduced from Central America into Africa describe destructive ecological explosions is currently addressing, piles on to a in the late 1970s. of exotic plants and . range of invasive species related threats. Some that have been the subject of icipe Africa’s backup staples, like potato, have Today, Elton’s military derived metaphor, research in the recent past include the not been spared from the invasion peril. which first appeared in his seminal book maize lethal necrosis disease (MLDN), Two years ago, the potato cyst nematode The Ecology of Invasions by Animals and caused by the maize chlorotic mottle virus (PCN), microscopic, soil dwelling Plants, has led to the adoption of the and sugarcane mosaic virus. The Centre roundworm that are highly destructive term “invasive species” as the universal has also conducted studies on the larger to potatoes worldwide was reported in definition of pests, diseases grain borer, Prostephanus truncatus, eastern Africa. icipe and partners, through and weeds introduced accidentally or the support of the Food and Agriculture deliberately outside their natural habitats or Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Globally, invasive species are countries of origin. The analogy of invasion have established that the pest has invaded also served as an early warning for a broad now considered the second several potato growing areas in Kenya. range of invasive species catastrophes with most important threat to which we have become all too painfully The continent’s horticultural sector also familiar. nature, due to their severe continues to face untold challenges as and cross cutting impact a result of invasive pests. New entrants Despite several international mechanisms within the last five years alone include (for example, the Convention on Biological on ecosystems, human and the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis, Diversity (CBD)), established to tackle animal health, infrastructure, a native of Asia, which is now present in invasive pests, their threat continues at an more than 30 African countries. Aside from economic and cultural alarming rate, bolstered by globalisation, ruining fruit and vegetable yield, at times increasing movement of people and resources. Sub-Saharan Africa up to 100%, B. dorsalis, like other fruit fly goods, land use changes, climate change, is one of the regions most species, is also a quarantine pest, and its and physical and chemical disturbance to presence in Africa restricts the export of species distribution. susceptible to this menace. produce from the continent to European

Indeed, globally, invasive species are now considered the second most important threat to nature, due to their severe and cross cutting impact on ecosystems, human and animal health, infrastructure, economic and cultural resources.

In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), one of the most susceptible regions, the list of invasive species is long and diverse; their destruction often horrendous. As an example, since January 2016 the Fall Armyworm, a caterpillar that is endemic to the Americas, has been devastating maize and other crops in at least 20 African countries, placing at risk the food security, and indeed the very livelihoods, of around 300 million people. The Fall Armyworm is causing devastating damage to maize and other crops in Africa.

[email protected] 3 www.icipe.org THOUGHT LEADERSHIP COLUMN BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL

markets and emerging markets in North and colonises important ecosystems like timely detection of invasive species as a America. Other invasive fruit fly species rangelands. A native of North and South solid basis to respond to invasive species, on the continent include B. zonata, B. America, Parthenium is considered one of reducing prophylactic treatments in case of cucurbitae and B. latifrons. Further, icipe the world’s most serious invasive plants. already established species and ensuring and partners have recently detected the In East Africa, Parthenium is extensively economic and environmental benefits. Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri, a spread over cultivated and pastoral lands. sap-sucking insect that can transmit the A significant element is the weed’s ability to The steps outlined above should create lethal citrus disease huanglongbing, also sustain the malaria-transmitting mosquito, a systematic, coordinated, consolidated, known as ‘citrus greening’. In addition, Anopheles gambiae, by extending its life, proactive and rapid response, based on Tuta absoluta, a devastating leafminer as a preferred sugar source, even in the a clear contingency plan, supported by originating from Peru has swept across absence of a blood meal. enforceable policies, reference points, and Africa, leading to the declaration of a state an inventory of management options. of emergency in some of the continent’s icipe is also investigating Parthenium main tomato producing areas. icipe and hysterophorus, known as famine weed in Unfortunately, in many cases in SSA, partners are making significant progress in parts of East Africa, and its relationship to the response to invasive pests has been addressing these challenges. increase in malaria incidents in East Africa. reactive and ad hoc rather than proactive. As discussed later in this publication, icipe Meanwhile, emerging infectious diseases Creating a strong line of has been collaborating with a number of like malaria, Rift Valley fever, yellow fever defence partners to rectify this situation. In addition, the Centre in partnership with CABI and the and dengue, pose constant and growing The degree of invasive pests introductions, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture threats to the continent. This is because, globally but especially in Africa, suggests (IITA) are planning a major workshop on while these diseases are already causing lack of adequate contingency planning, invasive species in Africa later in 2017. significant problems in endemic zones, they preparedness and management measures. are now also spreading to new geographical A three-stage approach is recognised areas in Africa, and due to a number of internationally: prevention, early detection, icipe recommendations factors, including climate change, they and control and restoration. To effectively tackle invasive species in also represent a constant threat to regions Africa, we recommend the following: beyond the continent. icipe recognises Prevention involves pest risk analysis by the responsibility of preventing the spread relevant regulatory authorities to predict §§ Development of high-level scientific of emerging infectious diseases, and has possible arrival, potential pathways, and policy dialogue between relevant therefore made this a focal research area. and the chances of a particular pest or authorities and stakeholders in pathogen becoming established in a new regard to invasive species, and broad Further, the Centre has focused attention location. This information should allow awareness creation of their economic on invasive weeds, like the Prosopis genus, regulators to determine the risk mitigation impact. enlisted for rehabilitation of African dry steps and the necessary phytosanitary §§ Strengthening of phytosanitary lands in the 1970s, but has since turned measures to ensure that the risk is kept at capacity and systems in Africa. out to be a noxious, extremely aggressive acceptable levels. Ultimately, significant §§ Reinforcement of interdisciplinary invader that replaces native vegetation attention should be given to accurate and research in the design and implementation of scientific and programmatic interventions for invasive species. §§ Support for continent and nationwide surveillance of invasive species. §§ Integration of invasive species threats into national disaster response units. §§ Creation of coordinated and collaborative resource mobilisation for invasive species activities. §§ Emphasis on novel intervention solutions that provide a sustainable

The invasive Parthenium hysterophorus is Fruit fly ManiaTM, a protein bait developed way of controlling invasive pests. extensively spread over cultivated and pastoral through icipe research, which is now §§ Support for crowd sourcing and lands in East Africa, and is also able to sustain commercially available in Kenya, is expected to citizen science in the management of the malaria-transmitting mosquito, Anopheles contribute strong defence to fruit flies, including gambiae. the various invasive species. invasive species.

[email protected] 4 www.icipe.org INSTITUTIONAL NEWS icipe designated OIE Collaborating Centre for Bee Health in Africa icipe has been designated an OIE Collaborating Centre for Bee In addition, the recognition by OIE re-energises icipe’s Health in Africa by OIE – World Organisation for Animal Health (the commitment to bee health research. icipe will advance intergovernmental organisation responsible for improving animal its activities that currently revolve around three thrusts. health worldwide). First, icipe is addressing the rising threats to bees in Africa resulting from factors such as climate This designation is significant as it formally change and habitat loss due to deforestation recognises icipe’s role as a hub of bee health caused by population pressures, among expertise in Africa and globally. Over the past others. Second, icipe aims to contribute decade, the Centre has been implementing a knowledge on the colony collapse range of initiatives in this area, primarily disorder (CCD), a phenomenon that through the establishment of the has become a serious problem African Reference Laboratory since 2006 and a major threat for Bee Health, a partnership to commercial beekeeping and with the African Union Inter- pollination operations in Europe and African Bureau for Animal USA. In collaboration with partners, Resources (AU-IBAR), the Centre is mapping bee health which provides a platform risk factors, while investigating for monitoring and mitigating strategies in Africa and preventing bee diseases globally. Third, the Centre’s researchers are and pests in Africa. As an characterising the gut microbiota of African honeybees, the OIE Collaborating Centre ‘friendly bacteria’ that aid insect defence against pathogens. It is for Bee Health in Africa, icipe hoped that this increased understanding of how gut mircobiota in will also be expected to provide uences the health of bees will lay a foundation for microbe-based bee health expertise internationally, strategies for bee health management. The African honey bee, extending collaborations to many of Apis mellifera is a key OIE’s 181 Member countries. focus of icipe research. Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kMpguF84Ok

Dr Samuel Wakhusama, OIE Sub-Regional Representation for Eastern Africa, samples the scent of Ocimum kilimandscharicum, a plant from Dr Jean Philippe-Dop signs the Visitor’s Book, seated infront of The Africa which icipe has developed a biofumigant for bee health known as Reference Laboratory for Bee Health, a state-of-the-art facility, where Apicure®, which has been tested in small-scale trials in Kenya and shown icipe’s bee health research is coordinated. to be effective in killing varroa mites and in repelling small hive beetles in bee colonies. Looking on is icipe Bioprospecting Programme researcher John Bwire.

[email protected] 5 www.icipe.org INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

IDRC Board of Governors visit

n 5 July 2017, the Board of Governors of the International ODevelopment Research Centre (IDRC), made a familiarisation visit to icipe, and held a roundtable discussion with the Centre’s researchers and IDRC’s key partners on youth agripreneurship.

The visitors had a chance to learn about icipe’s broad contribution to youth employment in Africa. In particular, the session discussed opportunities available for the youth through the INSFEED project.

Members of the IDRC Board of Governors pose for a group photo with icipe staff during their visit.

Mary Anne Chambers, Governor, IDRC, speaking during the visit. Seated Jean Lebel, President, IDRC, listens as icipe researcher, Tanga Mbii, next to her is Jean Lebel, President, IDRC. explains some of the Centre’s ongoing insects for food and feed research.

icipe has established a Technology facilitating better processes for providing Transfer Unit (TTU), which will enable information and advice, testing and the assignment of the dissemination of improving technologies, capacity strategies and solutions developed by building, innovative project development the Centre to a dedicated, appropriately and business incubation. skilled team. icipe Technology The Unit is being nurtured within the TTU will present a platform for Push-Pull Sub-Saharan Africa project, synchronised, sustainable and visibile funded by Biovision Foundation for Transfer Unit technology dissemination. The Unit will Ecological Development, Switzerland. build on pilot technology dissemination Initially, TTU will support the large scale launched projects by icipe and partners, to scale adoption of the Push-Pull technology them out for enhanced impact. across Africa, aiming to reach 70,000 new farmers, bringing the total number TTU will also strengthen cross-linkages of Push-Pull farmers to 250,000 (from the between icipe, farmers, researchers, current 180,000) by December 2018. donors, enterprises and policymakers,

[email protected] 6 www.icipe.org INSTITUTIONAL NEWS

THRiVE annual general meeting

n May 2017, icipe hosted the annual general meeting Dr Dan Masiga, THRiVE (AGM) of the Training Health Researchers into Vocational Coordinator at icipe, Excellence in East Africa (THRiVE, http://thrive.or.ug/) introducing the keynote I speaker, Prof. Marleen consortium. Temmerman.

THRiVE-2 brings together eight institutions from East Africa and the United Kingdom: Uganda’s Makerere University (lead partner), Gulu University and Uganda Virus Research Institute; Tanzania’s Kilimanjaro Christian Medical College and the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research at Mwanza; the UK London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine the University of Cambridge, and icipe.

World Malaria Day

n 25 April, icipe joined the global government officials and the general public community in commemorating the on the Centre’s malaria research and to OWorld Malaria Day, an occasion provide a space for dialogue on various set aside by the World Health Assembly, aspects. The event was coordinated by the the decision-making body of the World iTOC malaria research group. Health Organization (WHO), to highlight the need for continued investment and The icipe World Malaria Day sustained political commitment for malaria commemoration was supported by: prevention and control. This year’s global Biovision Foundation for Ecological theme for World Malaria Day was End Development, Switzerland; Med25 Hospital; Malaria for Good. Christco Church Mbita; SEEK Kenya; Equity Bank, Mbita branch; St Mary’s Mission icipe marked the day at the Centre’s Hospital; Nagasaki University, Japan; Imani Thomas Odhiambo Campus (iTOC), Mbita, Computer Services; Humanist Hospital; on the shores of Lake Victoria, with the Victoria Friendly Montessori; Mbita sub- slogan: Family Fun and Education; the County Ministry of Health; Rusinga Island Dr Ulrike Fillinger, Interim Head, icipe Human major goal being to create awareness Health Theme, presenting a prize to one of the Lodge and Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) winners of the ‘mosquito hunt’, game prepared among the local community, icipe partners, Church Central. for children during the event.

icipe and the Kenya Agricultural and mobilisation; as well as capacity building icipe – KALRO Livestock Research Organisation and extension of research programmes. (KALRO) have signed a Memorandum MoA of Agreement (MoA) towards technical icipe and KALRO will also share sericulture cooperation for sericulture research and production resources and facilities, for industry development in Kenya. instance, mulberry forage for rearing silkworms and processing plants for end The MoA between icipe and KALRO will products. enable the two organisations to combine synergies by: facilitating information The two organisations also intend to exchange through various scientific contribute towards a strong sericulture and non scientific fora; collaborative value chain in Kenya. research, joint publications and resource

[email protected] 7 www.icipe.org NEW FUNDING

Pollinator Information Network for sub-Saharan two-winged insects Syrphidae (hoverflies)

The project will increase he Biosystematics Unit has received (PIN-DIP). The research aims to organise knowledge on the minimally a grant from the JRS Biodiversity a network to collect, manage and share TFoundation, for collaborative information on dipteran pollinators from the investigated role of Diptera research with the Royal Museum for Central Afrotropics. Plant-pollinator networks are pollinators, which are possibly Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, under a project composed of a variety of flowering plants titled: the Pollinator Information Network and an interacting, high variety of insect just as crucial as other insect for sub-Saharan two-winged insects pollinators. pollinator taxa.

Push-Pull for sub-Saharan Africa icipe has received funding from Biovision Development has supported the establishment of a sustainable supply of Foundation for Ecological Development, development of innovative approaches the seeds of the two Push-Pull intercrops, Switzerland, which will enable a strategic towards gender-sensitive dissemination Desmodium and Brachiaria; instituting shift in the dissemination, adoption of Push-Pull in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania sustainable mechanisms for Push- and long-term viability of the Push-Pull and Ethiopia. The project has the following Pull dissemination; and monitoring and technology. Over the past two decades, four objectives: implementation of strategic evaluation. Biovision Foundation for Ecological partnerships for scaling-out Push-Pull;

MUSA – sustainable control of key banana pests and diseases icipe and partners from Europe (Italy, Spain banana weevil (Cosmopolitis sordidus). and Belgium); the United Kingdom; The These pests feed on, and damage banana Caribbean (Costa Rica and Cuba) and roots, weakening the plant, causing sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya and Ethiopia), toppling even in the lightest winds. icipe have received a four-year grant from the and partners will also produce knowledge European Union Horizon 2020 programme, on the biology and ecology of the beneficial to study endophytes and biocontrol agents organisms (entomopathogenic nematodes, (EBCAs) against key pests and diseases entomopathogenic fungi and antagonists) of banana (Musa spp). The Microbial and the pests (parasitic nematodes and Uptakes for Sustainable management banana weevil) in sub-Saharan Africa for major bananA pests and diseases (SSA). Further, once promising EBCAs have (MUSA) project started in June 2017 and been identified, their mass-production will ends in May 2021. icipe will be involved be evaluated and validated in the field, in in the screening of EBCAs against the collaboration with icipe’s Kenya-based burrowing nematode (Radopholus), the private sector partner, Real IPM Ltd. lesion nematode (Pratylenchus) and the

[email protected] 8 www.icipe.org RECENTLY PUBLISHED

Root-knot nematodes

study by icipe and partners has Specifically, the research identified the plants may attract or repel nematodes, this provided promising leads for chemical signals involved in the interaction is the rst time that the mediating chemicals Athe development of ecofriendly between southern root-knot nematodes, have been established. The findings, strategies to control root-knot nematodes; Meloidogyne incognita Kofoid and White published in Scientific Reports create new highly destructive, soil dwelling, (Chitwood), one of the most damaging opportunities for breeding peppers that are microscopic worms that cause up to 100% species, and a variety of pepper plants resistant to root-knot nematodes. Paper yield loss in important crops like tomato, grown in East Africa. Although previous link: http://rdcu.be/tgpn pepper and African leafy vegetables. studies have shown that roots of host

esearchers from the icipe push-pull production amidst enhanced damage, such sh-Pu Pu ll integrated pest management (IPM) as drought related stress and increased Rprogramme recently published their striga infestation, as a result of climate 100th peer reviewed journal article. change. Based on their trials, the scientists have selected Desmodium incanum and The publication reports findings from D. ramosissimum as the most promising studies by icipe in partnership with species. Rothamsted Research, which have p u ion identified new Push-Pull intercrops with Paper link: http://www.sciencedirect.com/ blicat traits to protect and enhance cereal science/article/pii/S0261219417300844 Jewel wasps

n a paper published recently in the Journal of Research, icipe and collaborators have described an unusual Inew species of Hedychridium Abeille wasps in Africa. The new species, Hedychridium buffingtoni, Kimsey & Copeland, sp. n., is described from two male specimens collected in eastern Kenya by Dr Robert Copeland, Head, icipe Biosystematics Unit. Besides having startling colours, this popularly named jewel wasp has intricate sculpturing on its abdomen that differentiates it from other members of the Chrysididae family to which it belongs. The description of the new wasps is part of icipe’s continuing studies, which are contributing much needed knowledge to the global taxonomy hub on smaller organisms, such as wasps. Paper link: https://jhr.pensoft.net/articles.php?id=12191 Platyplectrus sp.

Bee pest risk mapping

esearch by the icipe Geo-Information Unit has shown the potential revealed the potention to map and assess pests Rand diseases in bee colonies over countries and specific regions using innovative spatial prediction modelling. In a recently published paper, the researchers report the main innovation in their study, which was the development of an ecological niche model that not only uses crude data sets, like climate and elevation, but also sophisticated variables from satellite remote sensing on vegetation vigour (density) and vegetation seasonality. Paper link: http://www.mdpi.com/2220- 9964/6/3/66

[email protected] 9 www.icipe.org RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

Enhancing tsetse management

ver the past two years, through the Integrated Biological OControl Applied Research Program (IBCARP), icipe has been implementing a number of activities to enhance the management of the tsetse menace among affected communities in eastern Africa. The goals include increasing the commercial availability and sustainability of the Centre’s tsetse repellent technology and community capacity building to to monitor the flies.

The Centre is collaborating with resource persons (CORPs) in Kwale County, communities, government agencies South Coast Kenya. CORPS are individuals and private sector partners to scale- who have demonstrated resourcefulness in up their mass production and rollout, icipe-led initiatives to monitor and control backed by a viable business plan for its tsetse flies. commercialisation, packaging and wider dissemination. Participants received training on the use of NGU traps; how to handle insects collected icipe is also building the capacity of in the field; application of GPS technology communities to use its other tsetse control to locate and mark trapping positions, and strategies. Towards this objective, in June how to use smart mobile data collection Community-owned resource persons learning 2017, icipe and partners conducted an devices with open data kits. how to pitch an NGU tent. induction training for community-owned Fall Armyworm

Dr Tadele Tefera, Head, icipe Ethiopia Office, during a field assessment visit to some of the areas in Ethiopia affected by the Fall Armyworm. icipe in collaboration with partners and icipe and Virginia Tech and State University, United States Department of Agriculture stakeholders, has commenced a range USA, with support from USAID, have made (USDA) in Florida to identify strains of the of activities towards the management preliminary assessments on the level of pest collected in East Africa. of the Fall Armyworm. First reported in Fall Armyworm infestation, damage and Africa in January 2016, the pest has now possible control options in Ethiopia, Kenya The Centre’s Push-Pull technology also spread to more than 20 countries across and Tanzania. In addition, the three partners continues to show significant impact on the the continent, with devastating impact recently organised a regional workshop pest and studies are ongoing to unravel the on maize and other cereals. Estimates towards developing a cohesive strategy for mechanisms surrounding the impact. indicate that unless thwarted, the Fall the management of the Fall Armyworm. Armyworm has the potential to affect over icipe has also been a keen participant in 300 million people in Africa, who, directly The Centre has also been working with the Fall Armyworm consultative forums led or indirectly, depend on maize for food and partners to create awareness and test by the Food and Organization of the United livelihoods. The pest also has the potential pheromone traps in selected regions Nations (FAO) and the International Maize to feed on more than 80 plant species, in Kenya and Ethiopia, towards early and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT), including sorghum, rice, wheat, sugarcane, monitoring and detection of the pest. in April and June 2017. vegetables and cotton. Moreover, icipe is collaborating with the

[email protected] 10 www.icipe.org RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS

AFERIA capacity building

Participants of one of AFERIA capacity building sessions pose for a group photo.

Launched by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and icipe in 2016, AFERIA aims ver the past several months, the Adaptation for Ecosystem to disseminate research findings on climate change and food security, developed Resilience in Africa (AFERIA) team has conducted a series O through the Climate Change Impacts on of trainings to build the capacity of agricultural extension officers Ecosystem Services and Food Security around fragile mountain ecosystems in eastern Africa, for more in eastern Africa (CHIESA), which was implemented by the two partners and effective dissemination of climate change adaptation interventions. collaborators from 2011–2015. Rothamsted International Fellowship PhD student within the icipe Behavioural and Chemical Ecology Unit (BCEU), Xavier Cheseto, recently completed Aeight months training at Rothamsted Research, UK. He was supported by the Rothamsted International Fellowship Scheme (RIFS), which enables scientists from developing countries to conduct research jointly with a project leader at the Centre. Xavier was mentored by Dr Antony Hooper on a project entitled: The enantioselective synthesis of plant- based semiochemical kairomones of tropical insect disease vectors. The aim of the study is to develop plant- based super-attractive baits for Aedes and Anopheles mosquito, which can be used to reduce outdoor peri- domestic disease transmission by these vectors. Currently, the available lures are mainly human- derived and are often constrained by their dependence on large amounts of carbon dioxide, which is expensive and unviable in remote malaria endemic areas in Africa. Xavier Cheseto with Dr Anthony Hooper working in the laboratory at Rothamsted Research, UK. Women empowerment research awarded

poster entitled: Women’s Dublin Society, Dublin, Ireland, from 24 – women’s empowerment in agriculture index empowerment in agriculture and 26 April 2017. (WEAI), the research assessed: extent of Adeterminants of empowerment women’s empowerment in agriculture, indicators in rural Kenya, presented by The study’s central argument is that determinants of women empowerment Geoffrey Muricho, a postdoctoral fellow empowering rural women in developing indicators (production decisions; asset in the icipe Social Science and Impact countries can improve agricultural access/control; credit access/control; Assessment Unit, was voted the best at the productivity and other household welfare leadership and time) and tradeoffs and 91stAnnual Conference held at the Royal outcomes. Using the recently developed synergies between these indicators.

[email protected] 11 www.icipe.org icipe IN ETHIOPIA

Towards this goal, on 6 April 2017, icipe, National Sericulture in conjunction with the Ethiopian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Development Strategy co-organised a validation workshop of the Strategy, which is currently in draft format.

icipe is among stakeholders involved in The workshop was officially opened the establishment of a National Sericulture by His Excellency Dr Gebregziabher Development Strategy, aimed at providing Gebreyohannes, State Minister of Livestock systematic and coordinated guidance for and Fisheries, Ethiopia, who underlined Ethiopia’s emerging silk farming sector. the Government’s strong commitment to support the sericulture sub-sector towards the structural transformation of Ethiopia’s predominantly subsistent smallholder agriculture. The forum was facilitated by Dr Workneh Ayalew, Coordinator of the Young Entrepreneurs in Silk and Honey (YESH) project, an initiative between Mastercard Foundation and icipe.

The National Sericulture Development Strategy for Ethiopia is expected to be ready for implementation during the next Ethiopian scal year (from the last quarter of His Excellency Dr Gebregziabher Gebreyohannes, State Minister, Ministry of Livestock and 2017). Fisheries, Ethiopia, delivering the closing remarks during the National Sericulture Development Strategy validation workshop.

White mango scale workshop

he destructive white mango scale, Aulacaspis tubercularis, was first Trecorded in Ethiopia in 2010, in the Oromia Region, and it has now spread to six other regions. On 24 July 2017 icipe and the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Ethiopia, organised a workshop to address the challenge posed by the white mango scale and other pests, like fruit flies, in the country. The meeting recommended: conducting countrywide delimiting surveys; addressing research gaps; establishing and strengthening quarantine facilities; enforcing laws prohibiting inter-states movements of mango fruits and planting materials; building capacity of plant health clinics and applying biorational and recommended soft insecticides. Workshop participants deliberate on the challenges and solutions of fruit pests in Ethiopia.

[email protected] 12 www.icipe.org CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Recent graduates and thesis defences (April — July 2017)

Host project and funding: Climate Change Impacts Key findings: This study revealed that the false codling on Ecosystem Services and Food Security in Eastern moth, Thaumatotibia leucotreta, is a key pest of Africa (CHIESA) project, funded by the Ministry of avocado fruits across the altitudinal gradients of Taita Foreign Affairs of Finland. Hills and Mount Kilimanjaro transects. On the other Registered at: University of Nairobi, Kenya. hand, the invasive fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis was recovered mainly from the low land areas (< 500masl) of Supervisors: Dr Samira Mohamed Faris and Dr Sunday both transects. Although this pest was primarily found Ekesi (icipe); Prof. Florence Olubayo (University of James Odanga in previously damaged and overripe avocado, it still Nairobi). (Kenya; PhD) represents a major impediment to the export of the fruit Thesis title: Climate change induced-effects on biology from Africa, since it is a major quarantine pest. and ecology of avocado insect pests along altitudinal Currently: Research Scientist, Invertebrate Zoology gradient of Taita Hills, Kenya, and Mount Kilimanjaro, Section, National Museums of Kenya. Tanzania.

Registered at: University of Nairobi, Kenya Key findings: This study established that the Host project and funding: icipe Bee Health project, behaviour of the greater wax moth, a honeybee pest, funded by the European Union. is controlled by a cocktail of odours released by the colony environment, and the life stages of the pest. Supervisors: Dr Ayuka Fombong (icipe); Dr George The components of these odours were identified and Ong’amo and Prof. Paul Ndegwa (University of Nairobi). evaluated in the laboratory. The results indicate that the Thesis title: Determination of attractant semiochemicals identified components could be used in developing a Charles Kwadha of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella L., in control tool for the pest. honeybee colonies. (Kenya; MSc) Currently: Undertaking various research support activities at icipe.

Registered at: Kenyatta University, Kenya root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita), reporting Host unit and funding: Behavioural and Chemical for the first time the mediating host signals in the pepper Ecology, funded by United States Department of - root knot nematode interaction. Agriculture/ Agricultural Research Service (USDA/ARS) Supervisors: Prof. Baldwyn Torto (icipe), Dr Lucy Thesis title: Identification of semiochemicals mediating K. Murungi (JKUAT), Prof. Ahmed Hassanali and Dr root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne incognita) - pepper Margaret Ng’ang’a (KU) (Capsicum annum) interactions. Currently: Planning to commence PhD research on Ruth Muthoni plant-nematode interactions towards improved control Kihika Key findings: The research identified chemical signals produced by the roots of four pepper varieties that strategies of these phytoparasitic nematodes. (Kenya; MSc) influence the host seeking behavior of the southern

Registered at: University of Nairobi, Kenya haplotype of the small hive beetle Aethina tumida in Host project and funding: icipe Bee Health project, honey bee colonies. These and other recorded pest funded by a grant from the European Union species were found to be contributing factors to honey bee colony mortality. Thesis title: Diversity of honey bee, Apis mellifera, subspecies (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and their associated Supervisors: Prof. Suresh K. Raina and Dr Ayuka T. arthropod pests in Cameroon. Fombong (icipe); Prof. Paul N. Ndegwa and Prof. Lucy W. Irungu (University of Nairobi). David Cham Key findings: This study revealed the presence of three Apis mellifera morphotypes in Cameroon, constituting Currently: David has been collaborating with the (Cameroon; PhD) fiveA. mellifera mtDNA haplotypes, three of which were Ministry of Livestock Fisheries and Animal Industries, new. The research also showed, for the first time, the Cameroon, towards improving conservation of occurrence of the Korean haplotype of Varroa destructor pollinators. and Megaselia scalaris in Cameroon and a unique

[email protected] 13 www.icipe.org CAPACITY BUILDING AND INSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Registered at: Wageningen University and Research, between these hosts and different mosquito species. The Netherlands. Natural infection with high densities of microscopic Host project and funding: Chemical signalling of gametocytes (the malaria parasite stage infectious to malaria parasites, funded Netherlands Organization for mosquito vectors) increases attractiveness of human Scientific Research (Top grant ZonMW). hosts to malaria mosquitoes and body odour of malaria- infected humans partially increases their attractiveness Thesis title: Microorganism-mediated behaviour of to malaria vectors. malaria mosquitoes. Annette Busula Supervisors: Dr Dan Masiga and Dr Collins Mweresa Key findings: The study showed that mosquitoes (Kenya; PhD) (icipe); Prof. Willem Takken, and Drs Jetske de Boer and with different host preferences respond differently to Niels Verhulst (Wageningen University and Research). smells from people and animals. The bacteria found on the skin of vertebrate hosts influence the interaction Currently: Exploring career opportunities.

Registered at: University of Nairobi, Kenya months of storage ranged from 2.2 to 18.3% depending Thesis title: Assessment of rodents’ postharvest losses of the maize storage form. Rodents-damaged grains in on-farm maize storage in Kenya. were of lower quality in term of moulds contamination and nutritional value compared to the non-damaged Host project and funding: Reduction of Post-Harvest grains. Losses and Value Addition in East African Food Value Chains (RELOAD) project, funded by the German Supervisors: Dr Hippolyte Affognon (ICRISAT), Dr Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Christopher Mutungi (icipe), Dr Daniel Sila and Prof. Kukom Edoh Development (BMZ). Willis Owino (Jomo Kenyatta University of Agricultural Ognakossan Technology). Key findings: The results of this study showed that (Togo; MSc) rodents are second most important cause of storage Currently: conducting bio-acoustic research on rodents losses countrywide and the main storage problem in the by characterising their sound profiles at icipe. lowland tropical zone. Actual weight losses over three

Registered at: University of Nairobi, Kenya Key findings: Pre- and postharvest management Host project and funding: Climate Change Impacts measures for fruit flies explored in this study on Ecosystem Services and Food Security in Eastern demonstrate the suppression of the invasive Bactrocera Africa (CHIESA) project, funded by the Ministry of dorsalis species using methyl eugenol in the male Foreign Affairs of Finland. annihilation technique, the establishment in Kenya of exotic parasitoids Diachasmimorpha longicaudata Supervisors: Dr Samira Mohamed Faris and Dr Sunday and Fopius arisanus, and their coexistence with native Ekesi (icipe); Dr George Ongamo and Dr Paul Ndegwa Shepard Ndlela parasitoids. The study also proposed an effective (University of Nairobi). (Zimbabwe; PhD) postharvest disinfestation treatment against B. dorsalis Thesis title: Development and implementation of using hot water treatment. pre- and post-harvest management measures for Currently: Entomologist (pest management), Tobacco Bactrocera (invadens) dorsalis (Drew, Tsuruta and White) Research Board of Zimbabwe; trainer, University of and Ceratitis cosyra (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) on Zimbabwe. mango in Kenya.

Registered at: University of Pretoria, South Africa. Thesis title: Nectar feeding and chemical signatures Host unit and funding: Behavioural and Chemical influencing host plant selection in major Afro-tropical Ecology Unit, supported by the Swedish International mosquito disease vectors. Cooperation Agency (SIDA) through the icipe’s ARPPIS Key findings: The study confirmed linalool oxide as a programme. single plant-based compound attractive to Rift Valley Supervisors: Prof Baldwyn Torto and Dr David P. fever and dengue mosquito vectors. The research also Tchouassi (icipe); Prof Catherine L. Sole and Prof identified the natural host plants of malaria, dengue and Vincent Odhiambo Christian W. W. Pirk (University of Pretoria). Rift Valley fever mosquito vectors. Three component Nyasembe plant based lure attractive to male and female Aedes Currently: Finalising manuscripts for publication. (Kenya; PhD) aegypti mosquitoes were isolated and formulated.

[email protected] 14 www.icipe.org icipe IN PICTURES

icipe Director General meets UN Secretary General n June 2017, icipe Director General, Dr Segenet Kelemu, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Irina Bokova. The UNU attended the third Meeting of the Nominating Committee for the is an autonomous UN organisation, which carries out research, Iposition of Rector, United Nations University (UNU) and the 67th postgraduate training and the dissemination of knowledge. It is session of the Council of the UNU, New York, USA. Dr Kelemu above all a research institution but also serves as a think tank for was appointed a member of the United Nations University (UNU) the UN system, through its activities aims to contribute to capacity Council in 2016, by the then UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon building particularly in developing countries, and serves as a and Director General of the United Nations Educational Scientific platform for new and creative ideas and dialogue.

Dr Kelemu (4th from right) pictured with Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations (5th left) and other members of the UNU Governing Council. Dr Kelemu (5th from right) pictured with António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations (7th left), and other members of the UNU Governing Council. AAS-AESA visit Visit by Prof. Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, ACIAR

(l-r): Prof. Campbell; Dr Nicholas Korir, Policy Consultant, icipe, and Soil Fertility Consultant, Sanergy Ltd.; Mrs Wood, and Dr Komi Fiaboe, INSFEED project leader, icipe.

Dr Tom Kariuki Director, Alliance for Accelerating Science On 29 June 2017, Prof. Andrew Campbell, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Centre in Africa (AESA) and Interim Executive Director, African for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), accompanied by Mrs Mellissa Wood, Academy of Sciences (AAS); and Dr Elizabeth Marincola, General Manager, Global Programs, ACIAR, made a progress assessment visit of the AAS Senior Advisor for Science Communication and icipe-led Insect feed for poultry and fish production in sub Saharan Africa (INSFEED) Advocacy, recently visited icipe to discuss potential project. Through the Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF) initiative, ACIAR, together with the collaborative opportunities. They are picture infront of a International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada, are co-funders of INSFEED, sculpture of Prof. Thomas Risley Odhiambo, Founding an initiative that proposes to improve income generation, food and nutritional security in Director, icipe, who was also the Founding President of Kenya and Uganda, by developing insect-based feeds for sustainable, safe and cost- the African Academy of Sciences. effective poultry and sh production.

[email protected] 15 www.icipe.org STAFF NEWS

APPOINTMENTS

Dr Sunday Ekesi, was, effective Dr Saliou Niassy has been 1 May 2017, appointed icipe appointed Head of the newly Director of Research and established icipe Technology Partnerships. He has served Transfer Unit (TTU). Saliou icipe for 16 years, where he obtained a PhD in Zoology previously held various positions from Jomo Kenyatta University including; Head, Plant Health of Agriculture and Technology, Theme; Leader, African Fruit Kenya, in 2011, as a DAAD Fly Program (AFFP); Leader, ARPPIS scholar at icipe. He Insect for Food, Feed and other also holds an MSc in Natural uses Program (INSEFF) and Sciences and a postgraduate Interim Director of Reseach degree in zoology from Cheikh and Partnerships. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal. Rothamsted Research, UK, and a lecturer in Crop Protection at Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria. Saliou undertook postdoctoral fellowships at icipe and at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He also previously served Dr Ekesi holds a PhD from Ahmadu Bello University, attained as an icipe Research Scientist and Head of the Technology through icipe’s African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Transfer Unit under a project funded by the International Fund for Insect Science (ARPPIS) and an MSc in Applied Entomology and Agricultural Development (IFAD). Saliou was the Coordinator of Parasitology from the University of Jos in Nigeria. the Land Matrix Initiative between September 2015 – June 2017, and since 2013, he has been the Secretary General of the African He has been a member of various international advisory and Association of Insect Scientists (AAIS). consultancy panels, for the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and the World Bank. Dr Ekesi has successfully Dr Joel Bargul has joined icipe secured over 35 grant proposals as principal pnvestigator (PI) and as a Postdoctoral Research co-PI. He has published more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific Fellow supported by the publications, and has been a member of editorial board of Training Health Researchers into various journals. In 2016, he was recognised by icipe as the Vocational Excellence in East Outstanding Principal Staff of the Year. Dr Ekesi is a Fellow of the Africa (THRiVE) consortium. African Academy of Sciences (FAAS). He will conduct research on camel health improvement Dr Komivi Senyo Akutse has through identification and control been appointed Biopesticide of insect vectors responsible for Development Scientist within the transmission of trypanosomiasis icipe Arthropod Pathology Unit. and other zoonotic disease pathogens in northern Kenya. This An agricultural entomologist study is a collaborative research study between icipe and the and pathologist, University of Cambridge, UK. Komivi was previously a postdoctoral research fellow Joel holds a PhD in Molecular Parasitology from the University of (January 2016 – May 2017) at Wuerzburg, Germany, funded by the German Research Foundation the Institute of Applied Ecology, (DFG). A substantial component of his research was conducted at Fujian Agriculture and Forestry icipe. University, China. Prior to this, he was a postdoctoral consultant at icipe. Komivi obtained his PhD in Agricultural Entomology at North-West University, South Africa, through the icipe African Postgraduate Programme in Insect Science (ARPPIS) funded by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). He also holds an MPhil in Entomology from University of Ghana, also undertaken through ARPPIS with DAAD support, and a BSc in Agricultural Sciences, obtained at the Institut National de Formation Agricole, Togo.

[email protected] 16 www.icipe.org icipe gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the following organisations and agencies

Core donors • Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Kenya • Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland • Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) • UK Aid, Government of the United Kingdom

Restricted project donors • ACDI/VOCA Agribusiness Systems International (ASI) Kenya • Liechtenstein Development Service (LED), Principality of • African Union Liechtenstein • African Women in Agricultural Research and Development • McKnight Foundation, USA (AWARD) • Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland • AIRD (French Inter-institution Agency for Research and • National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation Development) (NACOSTI), Kenya • Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research • Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) (ACIAR) • Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, UK, • Newton Fund through Rothamsted Research, UK • R. Geigy Foundation, Switzerland • Bayer: Science For A Better Life • Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Switzerland • Biovision Africa Trust • Russell IPM Ltd, UK • Biovision Foundation for Ecological Development, Switzerland • Scottish Funding Council through University of Glasgow • Canadian Government through International Development • Swedish Research Council throughThe Kungliga Tekniska Research Centre (IDRC) Högskolan (KTH) • CIRAD – Agricultural Research for Development, France • Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) • Consortium for National Health Research (CNHR), Kenya • SWITCH Africa Green • Cultivate Africa’s Future (CultiAF) through International Development Research Centre (IDRC)/Australian Centre for • The MasterCard Foundation, Canada International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) • The Volkswagen Foundation, Germany • European Union • United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) • Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development • USAID—United States Agency for International Development’s (BMZ), Germany IPM Innovation Lab (Feed The Future Innovation Lab for • Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Integrated Pest Management) of Virginia Tech, USA • German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) • United States Agency for International Development • German Research Foundation (DFG) Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (USAID- • Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Environment PEER) Science program with funding from National Academy Programme (UNEP) of Sciences (NAS) • Grand Challenges Canada (GCC) • United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) • Humidtropics CGIAR Research Programme (CRP) led by • United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) • United States National Science Foundation (NSF) • International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) • Wellcome Trust, UK • International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) • World Federation of Scientists through the ICSC-World • International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Laboratory • IRD, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, France • World Health Organization • JRS Biodiversity Foundation through Royal Museum for • World Trade Organization (WTO) – Enhanced Integrated Central Africa (RMCA) Framework (EIF)

In realising its mission, icipe also benefits from extensive partnerships with research partners (including universities and research institutes in Africa and beyond), private sector partners, and communities across Africa.

For more information on these and other topics, please visit our Website: http://www.icipe.org or contact us through our Email address: [email protected]

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