FAO has arranged a biopesticide demonstration trial in Uzbekistan's Jizzak region, in cooperation with the Plant Quarantine and Protection Agency of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture, Nuz.uz reports.
The purpose of the occasion was to encourage the widespread utilization of biopesticides for locust management in Central Asian states. The event was attended by officials from specialized institutions from Central Asian nations as well as Russia. There were 33 locust control professionals in all, including FAO experts.
The event featured a presentation/theoretical component, field trips, and a five-day demonstration trial in which Moroccan locust larvae were treated with two biopesticides based on Metarhizium acridum (Novacrid) and Beauveria bassiana (Green Barrier) fungus. The experiment demonstrated the efficacy of biopesticides in eliminating hazardous insects while having no adverse effects on the environment. After the demonstration tests, environmental monitoring was done to see if there were any impacts on non-target organisms.
The five-day program came to a close with a round table discussion on lessons learned and proposals. A similar preliminary phase for the application of biopesticides is planned for the Caucasus in June 2023. The findings of the two demonstration tests will subsequently be discussed with all the Caucasus and Central Asian nations at the yearly technical conference planned for September as part of the FAO's Programme to Improve National and Regional Locust Control in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Chemical pesticides are hazardous to both human health and the environment, and biopesticides serve an important role in safeguarding both.
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