St. Augustine, Trinadad
August 12, 2005
Executive Director of the
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CARDI),
Dr Wendel Parham has outlined the Institute’s position with
respect to Invasive Species. He made the announcement at the
opening of the symposium on Invasive Species during the 41st
Annual meeting of the Caribbean Food Crops Society (CFCS).
CARDI is Chair of the Caribbean Working Group on Invasive
Species that has developed a strategy to deal with invasive
species. This group is comprised of CARICOM, UWI, IICA, FAO, CAB
International, University of Florida, and CARDI.
Currently, the governments of the region are reviewing the
strategy with aim to implement in the near future.
Recent experiences with the Pink Mealy Bug (PMB) have shown that
complacency is not an option when dealing with threats of
invasive species. Hence, one of the pillars of this strategy is
public awareness.
Also at the CFCS Meeting, a joint paper including the PMB as a
case study as well as recent research efforts to deal with
invasive species was presented by one of CARDI’s leading
Entomologist based at the Institute’s Unit in Jamaica, Ms Dionne
Clarke-Harris and the Research and Development Manager Ag. Mr
Bruce Lauckner from Headquarters in Trinidad and Tobago.
CARDI scientists also presented papers on
Livestock Development and the Sugarcane industry.
One of the highlights at the meeting included a one day session
organised by CARDI’s Country Representative in Dominica, Mr
Gregory Robin on behalf of the International Society for
Tropical Roots and Tubers which involved approximately 40
research scientists from English, French, Spanish and Dutch
speaking countries.
Dr Parham and Mr Lauckner participated in these meetings. This
CFCS Forum presented an opportunity for researchers to share
results and information on their various work programmes.
Speakers at the Opening Ceremony included CARDI’s Executive
Director Dr Parham; IICA’s Director General, the President of
CFCS and dignitaries representing the Regional Council of
Guadeloupe, the Guadeloupe Chamber of Agriculture and the CFCS
organising committee.
Other speakers represented the French research institutes CIRAD
and INRA, the University of the Antilles and French Guyana and
FONTAGRO (The Regional Fund for Agricultural Technology).
This year’s CFCS Meeting was held under the theme: "Alternatives
to high input agriculture in the Caribbean: toward the
elaboration of innovative systems."
It was held
from the 10-16 July in Gosier, Guadeloupe, French West Indies.
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