PLANT BIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY / Biotic and Abiotic Stress
Research Interests
Biopesticides, Integrated Pest Management, Sustainable agriculture, Regulation, Trade compliance, Biocontrol agents
Description
Derived from natural sources such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals, biopesticides play a vital role in advancing sustainable agriculture. However, although many biopesticides have been developed over the years, their commercialisation remains limited. This is due to several factors, including concerns about consistency and performance; regulatory systems that are still largely tailored to chemical pesticides; limited access to data and information for evaluation, registration, and commercialisation; and technical challenges related to production scale, formulation, cost, and efficacy. The Biopesticides Group works to promote innovation and capacity development across the biopesticide value chain – from discovery and development to formulation, commercialisation, and responsible use – thereby contributing to more resilient and sustainable agricultural systems.
Reference documents
Legal review of the biopesticide regulatory frameworks in Southern Africa
Policy brief: Augmenting the fight against the tomato leafminer using microbial bioinsecticides
Draft guidelines for registration of biopesticides and BCAs in Southern Africa
Fact sheet-Biology and management False Codling Moth
Info sheet – Biopesticide Classification and Applications
Info sheet – Biopesticide Production, Commercialization and Availability in Africa
Info sheet – Biopesticides and IPM
Info sheet – Promoting the Use of Biopesticides by Smallholder Farmers in Africa
Recent Publications
Mawcha, K. T., Ndolo, D., Kinyanjui, G. 2025. Advancing entomopathogenic fungi for improved management of Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 16(1). https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/pmaf034
Kinyanjui, G., Mawcha, K. T., Malinga, L., Soobramoney, K., Ṋethononda, P., Assefa, Y., Okonkwo, C., Ndolo, D. O. 2025.Managing African armyworm outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa: Current strategies and future directions. Insects, 16(6), 645. https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16060645
Mawcha, K. T., Kyampaire, D., Marciale, C., Simiyu-Wafukho, S., Chinyama, C., Babalola, O. O., Kinyanjui, G., Ndolo, D. 2025. An overview of biopesticide regulatory frameworks in selected countries in Southern Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1522526. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2025.1522526
Mawcha, K. T., Kinyanjui, G., Berhe, D. H., Hategekimana, A., Joelle, K., Ndolo, D. 2025. An overview of sustainable management strategies for Tuta absoluta. International Journal of Pest Management, 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/09670874.2025.2456590
Mawcha, K. T., Malinga, L., Muir, D., Jing, G., Ndolo D. 2025. Recent advances in biopesticide research and development with a focus on microbials. F1000Research, 13, 1071. https://doi.org/10.12688/f1000research.154392.5
Chrian, M., Njuguna, E., Obonyo, D. N. 2024. Considerations for addressing barriers to biopesticide registration and adoption in sub-Saharan Africa. Outlooks on Pest Management, 34(1), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.1564/v34_dec_06
Group Leader
Dennis Obonyo Ndolo
ICGEB Cape Town, South Africa
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +27-21-4047693
Group Leader CV
Group Members
Kahsay Mawcha, Research Fellow
Chibuzor Okonkwo, Postdoc Fellow
Rumbidzai Changwa, Postdoc Fellow