Shashi Vemuri

Title : Impact of climate change on insect pests

Abstract:

Climate change and global warming are of great concern to agriculture worldwide and are among the most discussed issues in today’s society. Climate parameters such as increased temperatures, rising atmospheric CO₂ levels, and changing precipitation patterns have significant impacts on agricultural production and on agricultural insect pests. Changes in climate can affect insect pests in several ways. They can result in an expansion of their geographic distribution, increased survival during overwintering, increased number of generations, altered synchrony between plants and pests, altered interspecific interaction, increased risk of invasion by migratory pests, increased incidence of insect-transmitted plant diseases, and reduced effectiveness of biological control, especially natural enemies. As a result, there is a serious risk of crop economic losses, as well as a challenge to human food security. As a major driver of pest population dynamics, climate change will require adaptive management strategies to deal with the changing status of pests. Several priorities can be identified for future research on the effects of climatic changes on agricultural insect pests. These include modified integrated pest management tactics, monitoring climate and pest populations, and the use of modelling prediction tools.

Biography:

Prof.Shashi vemuri had Ph.D  in agricultural Entomology  with specialization  in Insect Toxicology and Pesticide Residues, was   Formerly Senior Professor/ and university head of entomology at PJTSAU with more than 38 years experience in different capacities as Professor/ Researcher and Extension scientist, Administrator, Head of the Research Centres and Extension centres  He participated in various international and National conferences, workshops and has excellent links with many ICAR and State Universities, Universities abroad  and  leading MNCs. He is a globally travelled  Agricultural professional and has strong professional relationships with policy makers, Administrators,  farmers organizations and Agribusiness  sector with a thorough understanding of the complex socio-economic, political, cultural and environmental aspects of Agriculture in India and other major agrarian economies across the world.. He was a Guide, advisor, mentor for many budding agricultural scientists His contribution to crop protection, pesticide residues, insect toxicology and innovative methods of farming are widely recognized. He has worked for and with  CIMMYT, Mexico  on breeding for Insect Resistance. Worked with ICAR, SAU, WWF International ICRISAT, Major farmers organizations and federations  as a Collaborator, contributor and Researcher and with  the farmers on innovative technologies in sugarcane, Potato, Ginger and Turmeric.