At the 26th meeting of the IOBC-Global International Working Group of Ostrinia and other maize pests (IWGO) in Beijing in 2017, a sub-group on Fall Armyworm (FAW) was launched for Africa. The overall objective of the sub-group was to establish an independent, internationally recognized platform for the exchange of research results, experiences and ideas on the biological control-based management of fall armyworm.
At the 26th meeting of the IOBC-Global International Working Group of Ostrinia and other maize pests (IWGO) in Beijing in 2017, a sub-group on Fall Armyworm (FAW) was launched for Africa. The overall objective of the sub-group was to establish an independent, internationally recognized platform for the exchange of research results, experiences and ideas on the biological control-based management of fall armyworm.
A survey of IWGO members indicated substantial interest in the FAW sub-group. The group will also closely collaborate with the FAO working group on biological control of FAW. A number of outputs and activities are being planned in the framework of this collaboration:
- A series of virtual or face-to-face meetings and webinars on FAW biological control;
- Review papers on prospects and constraints of biological control of FAW in its invasive range;
- Development of new, global studies and collaborative research efforts on FAW biological control;
- Establishment of a forum where researchers will be able to share methods and results on biological control of FAW, as part of the FAW Research Collaboration Portal, including a database of the natural enemies of FAW in Africa and Asia
Researchers who would like to be included in the mailing list of the sub-group should contact
Marc Kenis, CABI, Switzerland, at