Demonstration and testing of biopesticides against Italian Locust in the Kyrgyz Republic

9:00 – 13:00 (Kyrgyzstan time)

In the framework of the “Programme to improve regional and national locust management in Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA)”, and with the financial support of the regional project "Improvement of locust management in Central Asia (Phase 2)" funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency, FAO organizes a national demonstration and trial on biopesticides use against locusts, which will be held for the first time ever in the Kyrgyz Republic, in close cooperation with the Department of Chemicalization, Plant Protection and Quarantine, Ministry of Agriculture of the Kyrgyz Republic.

The main objective is to demonstrate and advocate for the use of biopesticides against locusts to the various stakeholders involved in locust management, with a view to reduce the impact of locust control on human health and the environment. The selected biopesticide, based on the fungus Metarhizium acridum, is highly selective as it attacks locusts only. The effectiveness and absence of impact on non-target organisms have been demonstrated in other countries, including against desert locust in African countries and against the Moroccan and Italian Locusts in trials conducted in Georgia and Uzbekistan.