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Tuesday, December 2 2003 |
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| KENT DEVELOPMENT TEAM WINS TOP AWARD |
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From their headquarters at Bradbourne Lane, Aylesford, NR International managers and development consultants are at the forefront of pro-poor agricultural developments. The consultancy’s great strength is in building partnerships between teams of scientists from a range of universities, including the University of Greenwich at Medway’s Natural Resources Institute, and public and private agencies both in the UK and Africa. The NR International team, headed by Dr Frances Kimmins, received the prestigious British Consultants and Construction Bureau’s award for their work assisting in the introduction of natural pest controls to help Kenyan farmers and horticulturalists export more produce, improve domestic yields and alleviate poverty. Specifically the team has worked closely with the Kenyan Agricultural Research Institute and the Kenyan Pest Control Products Board to introduce the required legal framework for registering the natural pest controls so that farmers can gain access to these agents. As a result of NR International’s initiative, Kenya is amending its legislation for the registration of natural pest control agents enabling the country’s export horticulture sector to contribute to poverty alleviation by employing smallholders and pack-house workers. Taking a natural pest control approach will enable Kenyan farmers to make their crops, such as green beans and mange tout, eligible for export to the European Union where there are increasing demands for foods produced with lower levels of chemical pesticides and environmental impact. The natural pest control agents, dubbed “farmers’ friends”, can also protect tomatoes and brassicas produced for the domestic market and home consumption. Interest in the legal framework is also being shown in Ethiopia and Tanzania. Dr Kimmins said: “The current programme of research has been active since 1995 and the award recognises the hard work put in by all team members and the successful partnerships formed with universities, institutions and the private sector both in the UK and in Kenya. “These include a team of natural pest control experts, headed by Mr David Grzywacz, at the University of Greenwich at Medway’s Natural Resources Institute. Researchers from University of Reading, Rothamsted Research and Horticultural Research International also took part as advisors. “This initiative was funded by the UK’s Department for International Development Crop Protection Programme which is managed by the NRInternational team.” His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester presented the award to Dr Kimmins at the One Whitehall Place, London NR International is owned by the University of Greenwich, Imperial College, London and the University of Edinburgh. Other contributors to the Crop Protection Programme, managed by NRInternational, include Jerry Cooper and Mark Parnell, at the Natural Resources Institute. Mr Parnell said: “I believe that the way forward for farmers throughout the world is to place greater reliance on natural pest control mechanisms. “This can be by encouraging and stimulating the natural enemies of pests such as predatory insects, or by using biological pesticides in place of conventional chemical pesticides. “The Natural Resources Institute will continue to collaborate with
farmers and researchers in Africa and elsewhere to develop and evaluate
these new safer pest management technologies, some of which may be
produced and applied by the farmers themselves.” ENDS |
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Kent team of international agricultural development specialists is
celebrating being selected as top Small Consultancy Firm of the Year
at this year’s British International Expertise Awards.