This book offers a practical and innovative guide to managing the complex relationship between coconut plantations and insect pests. It focuses on effective solutions for pest identification, monitoring, and management through a blend of cutting-edge technologies and traditional approaches.
The coconut palm, aptly called the "tree of life," sustains millions of people across tropical regions, providing food, income, and livelihoods. Cultivated on approximately 12 million hectares globally, coconut production faces unprecedented challenges. Meeting the growing demand for diverse coconut products—from coconut water and oil to emerging uses like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF)—requires balancing food security with renewable energy needs.
Adding to these challenges are pest infestations, including insects, mites, and vertebrates, which can cause crop losses of up to 30%. These threats not only lower yields but also jeopardise income and food security for coconut-dependent communities.
Across the chapters, prominent coconut sector researchers and academics delve into pest biology, ecology, plant-pest interactions, climate change effects, organic farming, molecular tools, regulatory frameworks, and best practices for pest management. It contains detailed strategies for breeding coconut palms with enhanced pest resistance and addresses critical topics such as biosecurity and the global exchange of coconut germplasm.
With its unique emphasis on practices and real-world applications, this volume is an essential resource for researchers, agricultural professionals, practitioners, and policymakers committed to building a resilient coconut sector.