In West Africa, Biology Fights Cassava Beetle

Cassava, one of the important subsistence crops in Africa, is a major source of carbohydrates and vitamins for millions of Africans. In the 1970's, the plant was devastated by mealy bugs, a parasitic insect which has spread rapidly across the continent. Supported by UNDP and FAO, scientists searched for a biological solution to the problem and came upon an insect that would naturally attack the cassava beetle.