On the 16th December, Professor Sir Gordon Conway spoke about insectiside misuse at a Conference hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

International Conference on Threats of Insecticide Misuse

On 16th December, Gordon Conway spoke via video link about the threats of insecticide misuse at a conference in Vietnam hosted by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI).

Reducing insecticide misuse and exploring options for mitigation

Scientifically shown to be insecticide induced, two planthopper species – brown planthopper

(BPH) and whitebacked planthopper (WBPH) – have again been destroying rice crops in several Asian countries in the past 10 years. But, BPH and WBPH losses can be avoided if rice
ecosystems are better managed.

Using pest-resurgence insecticides or spraying routinely at the wrong crop stages often
compromises ecosystem services, which leads to BPH and WBPH outbreaks.
Rampant insecticide misuse is encouraged by farmers’ lack of knowledge, unqualified
pesticide retailers providing advice, selling of pesticides under numerous trade names, and
advertising and promotional activities that treat pesticides as fast-moving consumer goods like
grocery items.

Too often, pesticide sales and promotions violate FAO’s code of conduct so farmers suffer from
pesticide misuse.

This conference focuses on two goals: developing strategies to reduce insecticide misuse
in the short term and exploring mitigation options for sustained wise use of pesticides and
overcoming abuse in the long term.

For further information on the conference, see the flyer.

Media 

Gordon Conway writes in the Huffington Post about integrated pest management and this conference