Natural pest control saving billions

Date:
September 3, 2020
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Biological control of insect pests - where 'natural enemies'
keep pests at bay - is saving farmers in Asia and the Pacific
billions of dollars, according to new research. Biological control
involved the careful release of an exotic natural enemy from a
pest's native habitat.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Biological control of insect pests -- where 'natural enemies' keep pests
at bay -- is saving farmers in Asia and the Pacific billions of dollars, according to University of Queensland-led research.


==========================================================================
Dr Kris Wyckhuys from UQ's School of Biological Sciences said biological control involved the careful release of an exotic natural enemy from a
pest's native habitat.

"Scientists meticulously choose co-evolved beneficial insects that
are the most effective and least likely to pose ecological upsets,"
Dr Wyckhuys said.

"We've reviewed how biological control introductions have effectively
managed 43 insect pests in food, feed and fibre crops in the Asia-Pacific region over a century." The team found that biological control has helped regulate invasive pest threats in multiple key food crops such as banana, breadfruit and coconut.

"Our work shows these techniques are saving farmers in Asia around
$20.1 billion to $26.8 billion (US$14.6-19.5 billion) per year," Dr
Wyckhuys said.



========================================================================== "That's a phenomenal amount of money and benefit, particularly when
compared to other innovations in the agricultural sector.

"A good point of comparison is the Green Revolution in Asia during the
late 1960s, which tripled the output of local rice production but also
saw a rise of chemical fertilisers, agrochemicals and newer methods
of cultivation.

"A large part of the Green Revolution impacts can be ascribed to double- yielding rice varieties, which generated $4.8 billion (US$4.3 billion)
per year in Asia." UQ's Associate Professor Michael Furlong said
recognition of the success of biological control might lead to greater
uptake and more resilient, prosperous farming globally.

"Biological control offers great opportunities for some of the world's
poorest farmers," Dr Furlong said.



========================================================================== "It's promoted rural growth and prosperity even in marginal, poorly
endowed, non-rice environments.

"A great example is the coconut scale (Aspidiotus destructor), which jeopardised the economic prosperity and food security of entire nations.

"This coconut scale posed a serious problem to crops like coconut, bananas
and copra industries in Fiji at the start of the Twentieth Century.

"In 1928, lady beetles from Trinidad and millimetre-long parasitic wasps
were introduced, and the results were almost immediate.

"Coconut scale ceased to be an economic issue on all of the main Fijian
islands within nine months, and after 18 months, the scale was so rare
it was difficult to find.

"These innovative approaches, with increasingly better science, are
helping feed the world, safeguard on-farm biodiversity and increase
farmers' quality of life.

"We're hoping this research provides lessons for future efforts to
mitigate invasive species, restore ecological resilience, and sustainably increase the output of our global food system."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Queensland. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Kris A. G. Wyckhuys, Yanhui Lu, Wenwu Zhou, Matthew J. W. Cock,
Steven E.

Naranjo, Atumurirava Fereti, Frances E. Williams, Michael
J. Furlong.

Ecological pest control fortifies agricultural growth in
Asia-Pacific economies. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 2020; DOI:
10.1038/s41559-020- 01294-y ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/09/200903095607.htm

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