CABI Deeply hidden virtues... CABI celebrated its centenary in 2010. a century of scientific endeavour Since its beginnings as an entomological committee in 1910, it developed into a Commonwealth organization before becoming a truly international development-led organization supported by both a first class publishing division Dr Denis Blight AO, FRSA, is Executive and a solid scientific research base. Director of the Crawford Fund, a non- This book provides some insight into profit, non-government organization, how it has developed over the past 100 dedicated to raising awareness of the years and how it has worked to improve benefits to developing countries and people’s lives and solve problems in to Australia of international agricultural agriculture and the environment. research and training. He was Director General of CABI from 2000–2005. Prior to this he was Chief Executive of IDP Education Australia. He is a recognized leader in international education and has extensive international experience as a diplomat. He was a Commonwealth Scholarship Commissioner and Chair of the CABI Trust for several years. He is also a consultant adviser to the International Student Barometer and Chair of LIS Pty Ltd, operators of StudyLink an online enrolment service for international students. CABI a century of The author and editors would like to express their gratitude to the many current and former CABI staff who donated photographs ISBN Barcode and anecdotes or gave up their time to help scientific endeavour with picture research, fact-checking, and reading for historical and scientific accuracy. Without their contributions this book would not have been possible. CABI is a trading name of CAB International CABI Head Office CABI North American Office Nosworthy Way 875 Massachusetts Avenue Wallingford 7th Floor Oxfordshire OX10 8DE Cambridge, MA 02139 UK USA T: +44 (0)1491 832111 T: +1 617 395 4056 F: +44 (0)1491 833508 F: +1 617 354 6875 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.cabi.org © CAB International 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owners. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library, London, UK. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Blight, Denis. CABI : a century of scientific endeavour / Denis Blight. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-84593-873-4 (alk. paper) 1. C.A.B. International--History. 2. Agriculture--Research--History. 3. Agriculture--Research--International cooperation--History. I. C.A.B. International. II. Title. S540.8.C33B65 2011 630.6’01--dc22 2010053217 ISBN: 978 1 84593 873 4 Commissioning editor Carol McNamara Project Manager Diana Jones Contributors Dennis Greenland, Keith Harris, David Hawksworth, Bill Hominick, Norman Jones, Tecwyn Jones, Jeff Waage, Rob Williams Picture researchers Michael Amphlett, Christine Davies, Tim Ison, Tony Pittaway, Leslie Regab, Babs Ritchie, Eleanor Stretch Designed and typeset by Sarah Hilliar Printed and bound by Gutenberg Press, Malta CABI: a century of scientific endeavour Denis Blight Executive Director The Crawford Fund Deakin ACT, Australia Co-author Ruth Ibbotson Edited by David Hemming CABI: a century of scientific endeavour <Printer insert: FSC logo> CABI is a trading name of CAB International CABI Head Office CABI North American Office Nosworthy Way 875 Massachusetts Avenue Wallingford 7th Floor Oxfordshire OX10 8DE Cambridge, MA 02139 UK USA T: +44 (0)1491 832111 T: +1 617 395 4056 F: +44 (0)1491 833508 F: +1 617 354 6875 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] www.cabi.org © CAB International 2011. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronically, mechanically, by photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owners. A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library, London, UK. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Blight, Denis. CABI : a century of scientific endeavour / Denis Blight. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-1-84593-873-4 (alk. paper) 1. C.A.B. International--History. 2. Agriculture--Research--History. 3. Agriculture--Research--International cooperation--History. I. C.A.B. International. II. Title. S540.8.C33B65 2011 630.6’01--dc22 2010053217 ISBN: 978 1 84593 873 4 Commissioning editor Carol McNamara Project manager Diana Jones Contributors Peter Baker, Dennis Greenland, Keith Harris, David Hawksworth, Bill Hominick, Norman Jones, Tecwyn Jones, Caroline Scotter-Mainprize, Jeff Waage, Rob Williams Researchers Michael Amphlett, Christine Davies, Tim Ison, Tony Pittaway, Lesley Ragab, Barbara Ritchie, Eleanor Stretch Production editor Tracy Head Designed and typeset by Sarah Hilliar Printed and bound by Gutenberg Press, Malta CABI: a century of scientific endeavour Denis Blight AO, FRSA Executive Director The Crawford Fund Deakin ACT, Australia Co-author Ruth Ibbotson Edited by David Hemming CONTENTS Foreword 5 About this History 6 1. CABI’s Place in 100 Years of History 7 2. Foundations in Empire and Commonwealth 11 3. Entomology 15 4. Mycology 27 5. Parasitology 43 6. Biological Control 59 7. The Information Bureaux 87 8. CAB Abstracts 107 9. CABI and its Member Countries 113 10. Capacity Building 133 11. The Modern CABI 139 Abbreviations 153 Endnotes 154 Index 160 Imperial Mycological Institute, Ferry Lane, Kew. ©CABI FOREWORD Having joined CABI in 2005, I am still considered something CABI’s strength has always been its objective, science-based of a new hire! However, in the five years that I have been here approach with a unique combination of hands-on research I have been privileged to lead a very special organization. and high-quality publishing expertise. In recent decades that During those five years there have been many changes in has been augmented by greater involvement in making a real the way CABI works and is structured, but these have been difference worldwide by putting research into use through part of the constant process of adaptation to a world that development projects, implementing sustainable agricultural is changing at an increasingly rapid pace. As we began to practices and raising the incomes of poor rural farmers. But dig into CABI’s history for this book, we gained a much the key to the survival and growth of this organization has better understanding of the basis upon which its progenitor been the commitment, talent, energy and sheer hard work Institutes and Bureaux were constituted and recognized that of its staff, both past and present. I’m delighted that this this round of change was but the latest in a long series that history gives due prominence to some of the exceptional began almost as soon as the life of CABI began. individuals who have played a part in shaping CABI today. The willingness of many ex-staff to contribute has been As evolution is about survival of the fittest, then it is certain enormously helpful and shows the strength of allegiance that that this continuing process has helped CABI to remain the organization creates. fit for purpose during its first century, and enabled it to continue to meet the needs of its members and customers by Denis Blight, his editors and co-authors have done a solving problems in agriculture and the environment. I hope wonderful job of unpicking the many tangled threads of this book will help a much wider audience to understand CABI’s development over the past 100 years and re-weaving the many, varied and valuable contributions that CABI has them into a lucid and fascinating story. Through it, we made to improving agriculture and conserving biodiversity can see how CABI and its people have been influential in during this time, as well as providing a valuable reference to a variety of areas, from promoting the importance of peer those who follow in guiding it through the next 100 years. review of scientific papers to initiating the introduction of the UK’s School Milk Act in 1946, and conducting pioneering The people who worked for the early incarnations of CABI work in the area of biopesticides and biological control. had no idea that they were setting out on what would become such a long and eventful journey, but they had a Of course no history can ever be regarded as complete or clear vision of the need to combat pests and diseases so definitive and the subject matter that we had to draw upon as to protect the health of humans, animals and plants was rich and varied, so let me offer apologies to anyone who and thereby improve livelihoods and the quality of life, feels their contribution has not been adequately reflected. particularly in the developing tropical regions of the world. But I hope you will enjoy reading this book as a portrait Starting life as a small research committee, the organization of a unique and innovative organization and of the many developed into a loosely linked federation of Institutes dedicated, and sometimes colourful, people who have and Bureaux before reintegrating as the Commonwealth contributed to it over the years. I feel both humbled and Agricultural Bureaux and finally becoming the unified honoured to be following in their footsteps as we take CABI intergovernmental organization we know today, operating in into its second century, which I am sure will see as much ten centres around the world. change, impact and excitement as the first! Each stage of its history has not only shaped the organization but has also left its mark in the values, culture Trevor Nicholls and ways of working that still exist today, and which can at first seem puzzling to the newcomer. This book will help everyone associated with the organization to appreciate and understand how we got here – I wish I had been able to read it when I first joined! Entomology building, Queensgate, London.