Pest management issues in the Caribbean Moses Kairo, CAB International Caribbean & Latin America Regional Centre, Trinidad and Tobago

Why insect pests? Although this paper covers insect pests, the issues discussed are applicable to other pests Three interrelated topics discussed: development of ecological crop production Invasive species management Agro-biodiversity

Climate change and insects Sustainable management of insect pests: currently a major challenge for agriculture Climate changes that exacerbate insect pest problems make this challenge even more difficult

Ecological Crop/Pest Management Intensive production of short-term crops with high input of chemical pesticides: not sustainable harmful to humans and the environment Safe, healthy food for local needs More stringent export requirements Develop Ecological Crop Management (ECM)

ECM Needs Development of biologically based pest management e.g. biological pesticides Development of rational pesticide use and application technologies Use of cultural and other practices that enhance crop health Use of participatory approaches

Participatory Approaches Research Extension Farmer

Invasive spp. management Increased spate of invasive species globally and in the Caribbean e.g. HMB, PMB, Thrips palmi, citrus blackfly, citrus leafminer, fire ants, giant African snail Climate change can exacerbate this problem by increasing the geographic and ecological range of some species

Invasive spp: Needs Survey and documentation of invasive species and their potential risks Assistance to countries to develop national strategies and action plans Issues of safety of biological control in small island systems

Agrobiodiversity Loss of natural environments and associated biodiversity in the Caribbean Environmental degradation leads to loss of biological resources and soil fertility as well as changes in climate Loss of smaller organisms essential in agro-ecosystems are often overlooked

Agrobiodiversity - Needs Characterize and utilize biodiversity Understand: functional relationship between crop intensification, changing environments and biodiversity in farmers’ fields impact of agronomic and climate changes on the biodiversity and conservation of small organisms

Thank You