“Push-Pull” and innovation in crop protection

Toby Bruce

“High yielding varieties”

really ?

Striga

Striga causes 30-100% yield losses to maize and up to 80% yield losses to sorghum in SSA

Stemborers

Stemborers cause 15 - 80% yield losses to maize in SSA

maize yields up from 1 t/ha up to 3.5 t/ha

achieved with minimal inputs to date adopted by 90,000 smallholder farmers in East Africa

Maize yields increase

Attract naturalenemiesMoths are pushed away

Attract moths

Trap Crop

Main Crop

Intercrops – Melinis, Desmodium

1= (E)-ß-ocimene; 2= α-terpinolene; 3= β-caryophyllene; 4= humulene; 5= (E)-4,8-dimethyl-1,3,7-nonatriene; 6= α-cedrene; 7= hexanal; 8= (E)-2-hexenal; 9= (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol; 10= (Z)-3-hexen-1-yl acetate ; 11= 5,7,2′,4′-tetrahydroxy-6-(3-methylbut-2-

enyl)isoflavanone (uncinanone A); 12= 4′′,5′′-dihydro-5,2′,4′-trihydroxy-5′′-

isopropenylfurano-(2′′,3′′;7,6)-isoflavanone (uncinanone B);

13= 4′′,5′′-dihydro-2′-methoxy-5,4′-dihydroxy-5′′-isopropenylfurano-(2′′,3′′;7,6)-isoflavanone (uncinanone C), and

14= di-C-glycosylflavone 6-C-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-8-C-β-D-glucopyranosylapigenin.

Khan et al. (2010) J. Exp. Bot. 61: 4185

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&docid=nn8P5-7pyWm3GM&tbnid=7waK6li--sLGkM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://source.oglethorpe.edu/2012/10/10/heifer-international-and-stormy-petrels-unite/&ei=NO6FU8G1FeKN7QaFgIHICw&bvm=bv.67720277,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNGFKGpLxxglMSGrs9UUNTQHgnDk8w&ust=1401372592578577

Benefits of Push-Pull Technology

Sustainable Development Gender & Social Equity

Stemborers and striga

control

Increased fodder

production

N-fixation and reduced soil erosion

Increased forage seed production

Conservation of biodiversity

Increased crop yields

Improved cattle health

Improved soil health

Increased household

income

Technological Empowerment of farmers

Improved human health

Empowerment of women

Improved dairy

production

Improved FYM

Production