According to the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), between 20 and 40 percent of global crop yields are reduced each year due to damage caused by plant pests (insects and diseases).

Climate change is exacerbating food insecurity, and its negative impacts will worsen over time. This is happening via several pathways, among which plant pests are a leading cause. In fact, there are many possible pathways through which climate change may impact plant pests, including ecology, spatial distribution, and food chains.

Climate change may induce higher metabolic, developmental, survival, and reproductive rates in plant pests.

Enhancing farmers’ knowledge and skills to respond to climate change is key. Farmers must validate new technologies and approaches adapted to climate change, including digital-based technologies, and must integrate agro-ecological approaches. Farmer Field Schools (FFS) and other participatory approaches to improve integrated pest management (IPM) and sustainable production are proven methodologies to support farmers in this respect.

IPM remains the most integrated way to address the increasing severity of pests resulting from climate change.

Comment:
In line with the bottom-up structure of the Paris Agreement, where action is not conditional upon international rules, adaptation support will be better defined in a timely fashion, and targeted to hot spot areas / vulnerable sectors like water and agriculture in East Africa.