Calm has returned to farmers’ fields in Africa’s eastern bloc after swarms of destructive red locust were contained by scientists using Green Muscle®, a fungal biopesticide developed by IITA and partners in 1995. “A full blown [locust] invasion would have dealt a major setback on food security in that region if left uncontrolled,” said Ignace Godonou, IITA Entomologist based in Benin and part of the original team that developed the biopesticide 14 years ago.
“We are happy that Green Muscle® has proved effective in the control of locusts and is now globally used,” he said.
Starting in mid-May, a rapid biological control intervention by FAO using the biopesticide drastically reduced locust infestations in Tanzania and prevented a full blown invasion that could have affected the food crops of around 15 million people in the region. The organization added that Green Muscle® would continue to be deployed in the country as well as in Malawi and Mozambique in the next few months.
Although this was the largest-scale application so far, it was not really the first one. Last year, more than 7000 ha were sprayed in Senegal against Sahelian grasshoppers. The biopesticide has also been effectively used in Niger and Mauritania.
Green Muscle® was developed by biocontrol scientists of IITA, working with the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI) in the UK over a 10-year period as part of an international research consortium called LUBILOSA (LUtte BIologique contre les LOcustes et les SAuteriaux, or Biological Control of Locusts and Grasshoppers) set up in 1989. Large-scale testing of the biopesticide began in 1996, followed by on-farm trials conducted with organizations including CARE, AFRICARE, national agricultural research partners and local farmer associations. The formulation was approved by FAO in 1997.
The environment-friendly alternative to synthetic chemical pesticides uses a natural fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae var. acridum, the spores of which are suspended in a mineral oil solution, according to the study led by former IITA scientist, J. Langewald, in the Journal of Biocontrol Science and Technology published in 1997.
The fungus weakens and kills the locusts in 10 to 14 days and the biopesticide is therefore more effective as a preventive agent rather than for controlling outbreaks.
“Moreover, it can persist in the ground for several weeks to a year after spraying, continuing to attack and kill locusts and grasshoppers. The fungus is very safe and has a narrow and targeted range of hosts. Our studies have shown that birds and other organisms that feed on the treated locusts and grasshoppers are not harmed,” added Godonou.
Godonou said that the initial field trials of Green Muscle® were conducted in Benin under the close watch of IITA scientists based in Cotonou. Subsequent large-scale field trials were held in Niger and Mauritania.
“Mass production of the fungus for small to large scale field trials also started at IITA-Benin,” he added.
Green Muscle® has been picked up by the commercial sector and is currently being produced by a private company in the Republic of South Africa.
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For more information, please contact:
Dr Ignace Godonou, i.godonou@cgiar.org
Entomologist
IITA-Benin
Catherine Njuguna, c.njuguna@cgiar.org
Corporate Communications Officer (East Africa)
IITA-Tanzania
Godwin Atser, g.atser@cgiar.org
Corporate Communications Officer (West Africa)
Jeffrey T Oliver, o.jeffrey@cgiar.org
Corporate Communications Officer (International)
Communication Office
IITA – Headquarters
Ibadan, Nigeria
URL: www.iita.org
Related material:
“Development and commercialization of Green Muscle” (in PDF, click to read or download)
About IITA
Africa has complex problems that plague agriculture and people’s lives. We develop agricultural solutions with our partners to tackle hunger and poverty. Our award winning research for development (R4D) is based on focused, authoritative thinking anchored on the development needs of sub-Saharan Africa. We work with partners in Africa and beyond to reduce producer and consumer risks, enhance crop quality and productivity, and generate wealth from agriculture. IITA is an international non-profit R4D organization since 1967, governed by a Board of Trustees, and supported primarily by the CGIAR.
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