Abstract
Simple SummaryThe Insect Pest Control (IPC) Section and its associated laboratory (IPCL) is part of the Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. Its mandate is to develop and implement the sterile insect technique (SIT) for selected key insect pests, and thereby to reduce the use of insecticides, to reduce animal and crop losses, to protect the environment, to facilitate international trade in agricultural commodities and to improve human health. With this aim, the IPCL has been implementing research in relation to the development of the SIT package for insect pests of crops, livestock and human health. This paper provides a review of the research carried out between 2010 and 2020 at the IPCL.The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre (formerly called Division) of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture was established in 1964 and its accompanying laboratories in 1961. One of its subprograms deals with insect pest control, and has the mandate to develop and implement the sterile insect technique (SIT) for selected key insect pests, with the goal of reducing the use of insecticides, reducing animal and crop losses, protecting the environment, facilitating international trade in agricultural commodities and improving human health. Since its inception, the Insect Pest Control Laboratory (IPCL) (formerly named Entomology Unit) has been implementing research in relation to the development of the SIT package for insect pests of crops, livestock and human health. This paper provides a review of research carried out between 2010 and 2020 at the IPCL. Research on plant pests has focused on the development of genetic sexing strains, characterizing and assessing the performance of these strains (e.g., Ceratitis capitata), elucidation of the taxonomic status of several members of the Bactrocera dorsalis and Anastrepha fraterculus complexes, the use of microbiota as probiotics, genomics, supplements to improve the performance of the reared insects, and the development of the SIT package for fruit fly species such as Bactrocera oleae and Drosophila suzukii. Research on livestock pests has focused on colony maintenance and establishment, tsetse symbionts and pathogens, sex separation, morphology, sterile male quality, radiation biology, mating behavior and transportation and release systems. Research with human disease vectors has focused on the development of genetic sexing strains (Anopheles arabiensis, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), the development of a more cost-effective larvae and adult rearing system, assessing various aspects of radiation biology, characterizing symbionts and pathogens, studying mating behavior and the development of quality control procedures, and handling and release methods. During the review period, 13 coordinated research projects (CRPs) were completed and six are still being implemented. At the end of each CRP, the results were published in a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal. The review concludes with an overview of future challenges, such as the need to adhere to a phased conditional approach for the implementation of operational SIT programs, the need to make the SIT more cost effective, to respond with demand driven research to solve the problems faced by the operational SIT programs and the use of the SIT to address a multitude of exotic species that are being introduced, due to globalization, and established in areas where they could not survive before, due to climate change.
Highlights
FAO/International Atomic Energy Agency” (IAEA) Programme: Ten Years (2010–2020) of Research and Development, Achievements and Challenges in Support of the Sterile
The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre is currently composed of five sections, one of which deals with insect pest control, with the mandate to assist member states with area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) of major insect pests of crops, livestock and human health through developing and integrating the sterile insect technique (SIT) with other control methods
Right: Entire pest population in the agroecosystem is suppressed uniformly, and its numbers decline from generapopulation in the agroecosystem is suppressed uniformly, and its numbers decline from generation tion to generation (Figure from Klassen and Vreysen, 2021, reproduced with permission)
Summary
More than 10,000 insect and mite pests are known to affect livestock, human health and crops, both pre- and post- harvest; these species are often at the root of food insecurity throughout the world [1]. Pest Control Section in 1960 in response to requests from member states following the successful start of the New World screwworm SIT program in Florida, and in 1961, a Unit of Agriculture at its Laboratories. To address these duplications, the Director General of the two organizations reached an agreement on a joint approach to promote nuclear tech-. The Joint FAO/IAEA Centre is currently composed of five sections, one of which deals with insect pest control, with the mandate to assist member states with area-wide integrated pest management (AW-IPM) of major insect pests of crops, livestock and human health through developing and integrating the SIT with other control methods.
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