One-week intensive hands-on training on Microbial Biopesticide Production was provided under the STDF funded project entitled “Asia Pesticide Residue Mitigation through the Promotion of Biopesticides and Enhancement of Trade Opportunities” from 24-31 October 2022. The training was conducted at the Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Southern Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam facilitated by Dr. Stefan Jaronski, Adjunct Professor, Virginia Polytechnic and State University, USA. Ms. Martina Spisiakova, KM Coordinator and Dr Sasireka Rajendran, Project Manager facilitated the development of business model for microbial biopesticide production.
The training was attended by 19 participants from different institutions including Department of Agro Industry MAFF (Cambodia), Plant Protection Wing, Department of Agricultural Extension, (Bangladesh), National Agricultural and Foresty Research Institute (Laos), Ministry of Agriculture and Foresty (Laos), Horticultural crops research and development institute (Sri Lanka), Indonesian Agricultural Environmental Research Institute (Indonesia), Institute of Agricultural Sciences for Southern Vietnam (Vietnam), Southern Pesticide Control and Testing Center (Vietnam), Nong Lam University (Vietnam), Yergat Food Company Limited (Vietnam), Center for Business Incubation of Agricultural High Technology (Vietnam).
The training all the essential steps in production of the fungal biopesticides including isolation of the fungus, identification of the morphology, screening, spore production, inoculation, fermentation process, drying and harvesting of the spore, and quality control of the spores. Case studies on the application of Beauveria and Metarhizium spp. were also discussed.
The workshop also included a visit to the Hi-Tech Agricultural Park at Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam that contained different equipment needed for the production of fungal biopesticide. On the last day of the workshop, participants were introduced to concepts in business model for biopesticide development. Participants were engaged in group discussions to conduct the SWOT analysis of the biopesticide production. Participants presented the analysis and reports from each country. Followed by the last session, participants were acknowledged with certificates from APAARI for successful completion of the training program.
