WITH PLANT diseases posing an increasing threat to regional food security, Caribbean agricultural scientists are collaborating to strengthen the existing mechanism for pest identification and plant health information to make it more cost-effective and efficient.
The first meeting of moderators of CariPestNet was held recently at the Ministry of Agriculture to facilitate discussion on strategies to improve the network's operation.
PEST DETECTION SYSTEM
Speaking at the meeting, Minister of Agriculture Roger Clarke said the importance of agriculture to the region has made it necessary for the implementation of a proper pest detection, identification and management system. "This issue of invasive species has more far reaching implications than for just the agricultural sector. Furthermore, it has been rapidly gaining global recognition, given the increased risks of the introduction of exotic species, as a result of a similarly rapid expansion in international trade and travel," Mr. Clarke emphasised.
CariPestNet is an e-mail networking system of plant taxonomists (biologists who specialise in classifying plants into groups on the basis of their structure, origin and 'behaviour') and plant protection specialists, who provide advice on pest identification and management to network members.
