Assessing Biopesticides for Managing Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) in Africa

In the last 6 years, the fall armyworm (FAW) has spread to the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, as well as most nations in Africa. This case focuses on sub-Saharan Africa, where more than 300 million people depend on maize, as a staple crop, and the preferred host plant of FAW. Synthetic pesticides against FAW are not always used safely or effectively. Here we assess work on the current state of knowledge on biopesticides for FAW in Africa, document information gaps, including compatibility with other recommended management practices, and list biopesticides that are a priority for research, development and promotion. The case incorporates two earlier assessments, one from 2018 on the status of biopesticide options against FAW, and one from 2020 that led to recommendations for field trials for eight active ingredients – Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki , Beauveria bassiana , Dysphania ambrosioides , ethyl palmitate, eugenol, garlic extract, Metarhizium anisopliae and Steinernema spp. Field trials for some of these pesticides have now been carried out but other trials are still ongoing. The team also recommended bioassays to determine the effectiveness of four active ingredients against FAW – GS-omega/kappa-Hx-tx-Hv1a, canola oil, capsaicin and D-limonene. © CAB International 2023