ARC-PHP was established in 1962 with the amalgamation of the Divisions of
Entomology and Plant Pathology of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. These Divisions
had been in existence since Unification in 1910. In 1981 research on invasive
weeds was formally added to the ARC-PHP and during 2000 the Agricultural
Biodiversity Information Unit joined the Institute. This multidisciplinary
Campus follows a holistic approach to the pest, disease and alien invasive
plant problems, in line with the principles of integrated pest management as
defined in Agenda 21 of the Rio Convention.
ARC-PHP is one of the Research Campuses of the ARC. The hub of the
research activities is in Pretoria, with campuses at Roodeplaat. There are satellite units at Cedara, Uitenhage and Stellenbosch.
The ARC-PHP provides expertise to agricultural and environmental concerns
through research aimed at the promotion of economic and
environmentally-acceptable pest management strategies in support of sustainable
land management in the sub-region and many other African countries. To this end
ARC-PHP is a center of expertise on biosystematics, ecology and epidemiology of
invertebrates, fungi, pathogenic and useful bacteria, viruses and the control of
pests and invasive plants through optimisation of pesticidal and biological
control strategies in integrated management programmes.
Core
values
ARC-PHP is mandated to address plant protection issues that cut across
commodities, affecting many crops and regions; thus the research impacts on all
the provinces of South Africa and addresses the needs of many African countries.
Research is directed at commercial, small-scale and resource poor farmers to
address current and anticipated threats:
Biosystematic services are provided for the benefit of researchers,
agricultural industries and to governments to carry out their statutory
obligations. To this end the institute is the custodian of the National
Collections of Insects, Arachnids, Nematodes and Fungi. Biosystematic capacity
in the region is promoted through participation in African initiatives such as
those on arachnids, pollinators, fruit flies and SAFRINET.
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of pests of crops, plantations and stored
products is a central theme in much of the research of the institute and
includes:
classical biological control programmes
quarantining of imported organisms on behalf of government and industry
cultural practices
pesticide application and residue analyses
monitoring of resistance to pesticides in pest populations
bioprospecting to develop viable alternative control methods
development of strategies to curb migrant pests in collaboration with
neighbouring countries and international institutions such as DFID, NRIL and FAO
Plant pathology research and services focus on fungi, bacteria and plant
viruses and includes:
studies of disease epidemiology
monitoring of disease resistance in plants in support of plant breeding
programmes
development of diagnostic techniques
diagnostic services
indexing of virus diseases of banana and plantain on behalf of INIBAP
development disease-free seed schemes in collaboration with local industries
and protocols of the International Seed Testing Association ISTA
specialisation in disease complexes such anthracnose and soil-borne diseases
Research on weeds is directed at the development of
integrated control strategies against alien invaders of rangeland, plantations,
rivers and dams, This is in keeping with the objectives of the Working-for-Water
Programme of the Department of Environmental Affairs, the Water Research
Commission, the Landcare initiatives of the National Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Many of the weeds occur in other parts of Africa and regional collaboration,
such as for the proposed African Water Hyacinth Initiative, gives substance to
the President’s "African Renaissance". Consultancies on weed management are
provided to various African countries on behalf of CABI and FAO.
Expertise on beneficial organisms includes:
beekeeping for the benefit of commercial and resource-poor farmers for the
production of honey and other bee products and the use of bees for pollination
nitrogen-fixing rhizobia as effective substitutes for nitrogenous
fertilisers
mycorrhizal inoculants that promote nutrient uptake
natural enemies for the control of pests, diseases and weeds
Regional training courses for extensionists serving both the commercial and
resource-poor sectors are undertaken independently and in collaboration with
international partners.
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