FAO and Argentina exchange experience and seek collaboration in locust management in South America

Driven by their common goal of locust management for resilient agrifood systems, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Argentina's agricultural agency Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASA) have engaged in a productive exchange of knowledge and experience in locust management and control.

Argentina battles three locust species, with the South America locust (Schistocerca cancellate) posing the greatest threat to agriculture due to its three generations per year. The locusts also affect five other neighboring countries – Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.

“We are looking to collaborate with FAO to enhance national capacities and implement a regional project for effective locust management,” said Alicia Silvana Barone, Deputy Permanent Representative of Argentina to FAO, IFAD and WFP describing the purpose of the visit.

For over 50 years, FAO has been coordinating global work on sustainable locust management in different regions.

“Given the migratory and transboundary nature of locusts, it is crucial for affected countries and stakeholders to share knowledge and experience. FAO’s extensive expertise can significantly benefit Argentina and the countries in the region, and vice versa,” mentioned Shoki Al-Dobai, Locust and Transboundary Plant Pests and Disease Team Leader during the exchange meeting with the Argentina delegation at FAO headquarters in Rome.

Strengthening locust management in South America

Argentina experienced its worst locust outbreak the first of its kind in 2015 to 2020. Official estimates show that South American Locust poses a potential production loss worth USD 3.7 billion in Argentina alone. The insects cover a distance of 150km (93 miles) in a day consuming all vegetation on their path.

SENASA’s work involves surveying, early detection and control, coordination, response, as well as operating an alert system for locusts including use of a mobile phone application which allows farmers to report about the pest sightings in real-time. However, further capacity building and modern tools are needed to enhance locust management in the region.

Hector Emilio Medina, General Coordinator of Contingencies and Emergencies and Head of the National Locust Program at SENASA, emphasized, “Gaining knowledge and skills transfer from FAO on innovative technologies used in other countries is crucial to our locust management efforts. Currently, we are not carrying out forecasting – an essential area where we believe we could greatly benefit from the FAO's expertise.”

The Argentina delegation toured the Swiss Centre for locusts and migratory pest where they appreciated the digital technologies for monitoring and analysis, management and coordination activities.

SENASA has utilized FAO's locust management guidelines, which have been translated into local languages to support local farmers and stakeholders.