A CNN Inside Africa television report featured efforts by researchers and associates of the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology at Stellenbosch University (SU) to manage agricultural pests in the Western Cape.

The eight minute report was broadcast on 26 January 2016. It was titled 'Sterilized fruit flies could save South Africa's crops'. It featured alternative pest management methods being developed in collaboration with the Department's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) researchers, Dr Antoinette Malan and Dr Pia Addison to manage fruit flies. These methods include the use of the Sterile Insect Technique and entomopathogenic nematodes that kill off other insects.

Among those interviewed was Matthew Addison, who is a HORTGRO research fellow in the SU Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. It also featured researcher Sheila Storey of the diagnostics laboratory Nemlab, who works in collaboration with the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology on commercializing entomopathogenic nematodes.

"These biological control options are currently being implemented and optimized in deciduous fruit and vine crops in the Western Cape," explains Dr Addison. "The ultimate goal of the research is to reduce producers' reliance on synthetic chemical pesticides.

Fruit flies are a quarantine pest, and can have a direct, devastating effect on fruit production in the region. They are also of concern with regards to international trade matters, and their presence could hamper fruit export markets if not managed correctly.

CNN picked up on their research following a recent article in The Conversation Africa, co-authored by Dr Addision, Dr Malan, Dr Ken Pringle and Mr Addison. It was titled "Pesticides are not the only way to deal with our biggest food competitors – insects".

• View the CNN report here.
• Read the researchers' article in The Conversation Africa here.

Background on the Integrated Pest Management research group at Stellenbosch University:

Researchers in applied entomology develop and test sustainable methods by which to control insect and mite pests on tree fruits and vines in the Western Cape. This is done in an effort to help farmers produce high quality fruit which is insecticide free. The research programme includes studies on fruit fly ecology, moth pest management, the biological control of insect and mite pests and quarantine pests.

More information about the IPM:

http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/agri/conservation-ecology/research/integrated-pest-management-(ipm)