International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe)- African insect science for

food and health.

Chris Prideaux, Director Research and Partnerships

A centre of excellence in Africa — for research and capacity building in insect science and its applications

An intergovernmental organization — charter signed by 13 countries worldwide

≈ 400 staff total, 50–70 MSc, PhD students in residenceMany contracted workers

An organization with a unique history — 40+ years

old, genesis in Africa

General Facts

Where we work

Africa focused- currently activities in 30 countries

How we work

4-Hs paradigm

R&D on human, animal, plant & environmental health, and capacity building

• Common denominator insects/ arthropods

• TSETSE• TICKS

• HORTICULTURAL CROP PESTS

• STAPLE FOOD CROP PESTS

• PLANTATION CROP PESTS

• MALARIA• SLEEPING SICKNESS

• ARBOVIRAL INFECTIONS

• COMMERCIAL INSECTS• BEE HEALTH• BIOPROSPECTING• BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

• CLIMATE CHANGE

Human Health

Animal Health

Plant Health

Major Program Areas

Environmental Health

Human Health

Holistic and integrated control of vector-borne diseases

Focus on vector control

Broad areas in focus:

• Malaria

• Human sleeping sickness

• Rift valley fever

• Emerging infectious diseases

Animal Health

Develop sustainable solutions for important diseasevectors like tsetse flies and mosquitoes

e.g. Tsetse/Trypanosomiasis control

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Tsetse fly Tryp prevalence

• Waterbuck are present in tsetse habitats but not fed upon

• Refractoriness is mediated by repellents

• 15 EAD active compounds were found in the waterbuck odour

• Through series of field experiments 5 - component blend was identified (icipe patent application)

• WRB reduces fly catches by 80% and feeding efficiency >95%

Cows in waterbuck clothing

Tsetse – identification of repellents from un-preferred hosts

Gas chromatogram of body odors from waterbuck

• For savannah species (vectors of nagana) icipe’s trapping technology based on combination on visual & olfactory cues can reduce flies by >90% in ~ 2 years

Innovations in Animal Health - Tsetse Flies

• Waterbuck-derived repellent identified & synthesized

• Vial containing chemical attached to collar effectively repels tsetse flies

~ 75% of cattle equipped with collar protects entire herd

Technology for pastoralists

Plant Health

Improve food security, nutrition and farmers’ income through Integrated Pest Management

(IPM)

Attract naturalenemies

Moths are pushed away

Attract moths

Trap Crop

Main CropPush-Pull TechnologyControls stemborers and striga weed.

Desmodium as an inter-crop species releases chemicals that result in premature germination of striga seed.

Long term trials with maize-legume intercrops

Maize + Green gram

Maize + cowpea Maize +Desmodium

Maize + Beans

Khan et al. 2007. Crop Sci. 47:730-734; Midega et al. 2014. Field Crop Res.155: 144–152

Maize + Desmodium

Desmodium intercrop efficiently depletes striga seed bank

Khan et al. 2008. Weed Research 48:302-306

Plant health program

• Impact of Stemborer

Plant health program

Push pull field visit

Push Pull

Reduces losses due to pests and weeds

Increases soil fertility through nitrogen fixation

Increases water retention by acting as a mulch

Reduces the need for weeding

Provides high quality fodder for livestock which increases productivity (milk and meat)

Attract naturalenemies

Moths are pushed away

Attract moths

Trap Crop

Main Crop

Environmental Health

Contribute to biodiversity conservation through development of tangible strategies that improves the livelihood of communities living in the vicinity of protected areas

establishing bee and silk industries within communities

From Bees to honey and wax

icipe’s Capacity Building in Tigray

On site training of 263 beekeepers (35% women)

17 beekeeper organizations established (550 members)

2,750 Langstroth hives distributed to beekeepers

Individual and community apiaries established

Eastern Tigray market place established; including honey processing facilities

Eastern Tigray honey and was received organic certification with support from icipe training

Post-harvest processing of silk cocoons

Mulberry and silkmoth eggs

Vth instar Silkworms

Silkmoth cocoons on mountage

Reeling of silk cocoon

Winding of silk yarn

Twisting and doubling of silk yarn

Handloom

Powerloom

Silkmoth laying Eggs

Silk cocoon production

From Soil to Silk: Mulberry Silk Farming

Funding Source

Core-funding

• BMZ—Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany

• DFID—Department for International Development, United Kingdom• Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Kenya• SIDA—Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency,

Sweden• SDC—Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, Switzerland • The Gov. of Kenya

Project funding

The European Union, various national & international donor agencies, foundations, multilateral organizations, regional

economic blocks, World Federation of Scientists.

         

THANK YOU