ICIPE International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology

The International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) was established in Nairobi Kenya in 1970 as an institute for advanced research in insect science and its application. This was at a time when many people were growing alarmed by the lavish and careless use of highly toxic insecticides throughout the developing world. More and more pest species were becoming immune to these substances and simultaneously potentially beneficial parasites and predators were often eliminated along with the harmful ones. The ICIPE team has striven to reduce this hazardous over-reliance on insecticides by developing simple alternative systems of integrated pest management that can be used by the rural poor in developing countries. In addition to its headquarters in Nairobi, ICIPE has a major field research station on the shores of Lake Victoria and eight field study sites scattered through out Kenya, which vary widely in altitude, rainfall, soil type and agricultural potential. ICIPE also has resident research teams in the Philippines and Nigeria and has established links with key international research centres and advanced laboratories throughout the world. The scientific research programme is concerned primarily with tropical insect pests of selected basic food crops and vectors of livestock and human diseases. The crop pests currency under investigation include the borers of maize, sorghum, cowpeas and banana. The livestock pests being studied are tsetse, (the carrier of trypanosomiasis) and ticks, carriers of several debilitating cattle diseases including East Coast Fever. The Centre's PESTNET (African Regional Pest Management Research and Development Network for Integrated Control of Crop and Livestock Pests) stimulates collaboration among a steadily increasing membership of countries. It was formed by African countries and resident research institutions in recognition that their individual manpower and financial resources were not equal to the task of combating crop and livestock pests. PESTNET therefore operates as a framework for interactive research and extension efforts between ICIPE and national pest management programmes throughout Africa. The Library and Documentation Service at ICIPE was started in 1973 to provide an effective information service to researchers, and to collaborate with ocher organizations for maximum use of research results in solving human problems associated with insect pests and disease vectors. Construction of a new library and Documentation facility will start soon with funds provided by the Swiss Government. A branch library is located at the main field research station where approximately 5,000 books and monographs are held, about a third of them mainly material on crop pests. The Library currently subscribes to 120 periodicals and these are supplemented by about 40 additional current titles by donations and exchange with ICIPE's own journal 'Insect Science and Its Application'. Approximately 1400 reprints are also available and an archive collection of IClPE's own publications, important files and ocher documents. The Library and Documentation Service is in the process of expanding to become a regional information centre to, serve research and development needs of African and ocher tropical developing countries. It is proposed that there will be an authoritative collection and computerized database on insect pests and disease vectors. PMDISS (Pest Management Documentation and Information System and Service) is intended to develop into a network with ICIPE as the focal point hosting the regional centre. The subject scope of PMDISS will initially cover crop borers but this will expand to cover other target insect pests and vectors. ICIPE - PO Box 30772 Nairobi - KENYAThe International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) was established in Nairobi Kenya in 1970 as an institute for advanced research in insect science and its application. This was at a time when many people were growing alarmed by the..