CABI

The issue:

Smallholder farmers produce most of the world’s food, but the majority live in poor and vulnerable communities where they often lack access to science-based information about crop health. Potatoes are grown by thousands of smallholder farmers in Chile, but the crop is severely constrained by pests and diseases. Chemical pesticides are currently the main way of controlling infestations, but they can pose serious risks to the environment and human health, and as pest resistance rises, crop yields are reduced.

The project:

CABI’s vision is a world where the sharing of agricultural and environmental knowledge empowers people and protects the planet.

Through a Croda Foundation grant of £299,145, CABI will support 300 smallholder farmers to reduce their reliance on chemical pesticides for potato cultivation. Through a phased approach over three years, the project will enable them to develop more sustainable livelihoods through nature-based biological pesticides. The project will incorporate existing biopesticides already available on the market, as well as investigate new biological solutions, and it will focus on training farmers in safe agricultural practices. By sharing science-based knowledge about crop health, CABI will support smallholder farmers to grow more and lose less, increase their incomes and ultimately improve their livelihoods.

To learn more, visit the CABI website.