Development and promotion of alternative eco-friendly methods for control of livestock pests without the use of persistent organic pollutants (POPs)

icipe focusses its work on development of eco-friendly integrated strategies and tools for control of vectors of animal diseases for enhancing livestock health and productivity and welfare of livestock keepers. Research activities focus on developing simple technologies based on detailed understanding of vector behaviour, population ecology and vector–host and vector–parasite interactions. Our work has focused on tsetse flies (vectors of animal and human trypanosomosis), and ticks (which among others transmit East Coast fever). Some of the technologies developed include icipe’s tsetse traps whose efficacy is enhanced by odour baits, biological control and use of repellents. In the case of ticks we are developing strategies for managing these vectors on smallholder farming systems with approaches which rely on biological control, use of botanicals and anti-tick pasture plants, repellents and behavioural modification of semiochemicals which ticks use to find hosts and mates. More details are provided under the Animal Health Theme.