“It’s easy to ignore something that you cannot see, but it’s often what you cannot see that’s the most important.”
-dr. Danny Coyne
At the recent launch of FLiPPER, Bayer’s bio-insecticide designed for the control of thrips, mealybugs, and spider mites, Dr. Danny Coyne of NEM Africa delivered a critical address on the growing challenge posed by nematodes in agriculture, including the floriculture industry.
Held at Interplant Roses in Naivasha, the launch event brought together key industry players to explore pest management innovations. Coyne used the opportunity to raise awareness about plant parasitic nematodes, which, despite their microscopic size, cause significant damage to a wide range of crops. As Coyne highlighted, “The reality is that nematodes affect every single crop that we grow and damage them to a huge extent.” He stressed that the economic impact is staggering, with losses far reaching annually in crop damage.
Nematodes are particularly challenging because they often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Coyne explained, “It’s easy to ignore something that you cannot see, but it’s often what you cannot see that’s the most important.” This lack of visibility contributes to the widespread underestimation of the problem, leaving many growers unaware of the true extent of nematode-related damage.
One of the key topics Coyne addressed was the spread of the potato cyst nematode (PCN) in East Africa. “Potato cyst nematode is an Alien invasive detected about 10 years ago, and we now know that it is everywhere in Kenya, in Uganda, in Rwanda, most likely in Tanzania,” he said. PCN is now considered the single largest pest of potatoes globally, with a significant presence in East Africa, particularly in Kenya.
Coyne also provided a deeper look at the types of nematodes affecting crops. Root-knot nematodes, for instance, have been particularly destructive to crops like coffee, bananas, and sweet potatoes. As he pointed out, “Root-knot nematodes cause cracking, which leads to further damage and rotting.” This type of damage affects both crop yield and quality, making affected produce unmarketable.
At the forefront of nematode research and management, NEM Africa plays a critical role in addressing these challenges. Coyne proudly shared, “We are actually the largest, most active nematology unit in sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa.” The organization is working alongside Bayer to develop integrated, sustainable pest management solutions.
One of Coyne’s key takeaways for growers was the importance of awareness. “A grower that is better informed is better able to make balanced decisions on what to do about the problem and know about the problem.”
NemAfrica is a joint nematology unit of IITA (International Institute of Tropical Agriculture) and icipe (International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology), focusing on research and innovation in nematode management, particularly in Africa, with a focus on potato cyst nematodes (PCN).