Climate Change Impacts on Outbreak of Brown Plant Hopper and Options for Prevention

Project summary

The objective of this project is to assess the impacts of climate change (CC) on BPH potential outbreak and to propose appropriate measures to ensure food security and agricultural sustainability in Vietnam. To date, only a limited amount of scientific research has aimed at figuring out the impact of CC on BPH demography leading to outbreaks in rice. Also, concerns are growing on the abuse of insecticides. The project is proposed to implement cooperative efforts between the Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI) and Aarhus University (AU) as well as other institutions in Vietnam and Japan. Expected outputs of the project: (i) establish model and modelling expertise to elucidate the impact of CC on BPH outbreak; (ii) apply mathematical and GIS models to predict BPH outbreak under impact of CC; (iii) establish molecular diagnostics procedures and expertise as tools to determine current and predicted trends in pests genomics under CC; (iv) formulate policies, adapting measures and techniques to prevent pest outbreaks, aimed at authorities and farmers to ensure food security and sustainable agriculture. The results of the project will be published on international peer-review journals. Two doctoral and three master students will be educated by this project as part of research capacity building for Vietnam. Reports, recommended policies and technical guidelines will be disseminated through the Vietnam’s administrative system, target stakeholder and project website.

Outputs

Project completion report:

Climate change will have significant impact on the conditions for agriculture around the world. Food security and livelihood of resource-poor farmers in tropical regions will be affected in particular. In Vietnam, outbreaks of brown plant hopper have caused catastrophic losses of rice crops in some years. However, We conclude that these outbreaks were not induced by weather, but by the choice of rice cultivars and improper use of insecticides. Under climate change, the proper management of these two factors (rice cultivar, insecticides) will remain decisive for management of this pest.

Our survey on insecticide resistance in brown plant hopper, in nine provinces throughout Vietnam over three years, found no incidences of high resistance. However, the current profile of resistance against difference insecticides indicates that major resistance problems will evolve if current agronomic practices are not altered. The results will be beneficial for development of resistance management strategies to prevent and delay development of insecticide resistance in the brown planthopper from Vietnam. Insecticides should be applied only when needed; they should be timed for maximum effect; and insecticides should be rotated for different modes of action.