Leveraging data, models & farming innovation to prevent, prepare for & manage pest incursions: Delivering a pest risk service for low- income countries

Abstract

Globally, pests (invertebrates, vertebrates, pathogens, weeds) can cause estimated annual losses of between 20- 40%, but higher losses are disproportionately experienced by many low-income countries as agriculture is the mainstay of the majority of the people and of national economies. Pests pose a major barrier to these countries to meet the aims of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG2 “End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture”. However, solutions, in the form of pest risk alert systems coupled with major advances in technology are now providing opportunities to overcome this barrier in low-income countries. In this paper we review these systems and the advances in data availability, management and modelling and communication technology and illustrate how these can provide new and novel solutions for the development of agricultural pest and disease early warning and risk mapping systems and contribute to improved food systems in low-income countries. In conclusion, we identify key areas for the UNFSS that will help guide governments to engage with these developments.