Harnessing nature's smallest creatures to solve some of Africa's biggest challenges
Nature-based pest control
Circular economy solutions
Natural disease control
Imagine a solution to food insecurity so small it fits on the head of a pin, yet so powerful it can transform entire agricultural landscapes. This isn't science fiction—it's the revolutionary work being pioneered by the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe) in Nairobi, Kenya.
For decades, this innovative research organization has been harnessing the most minute creatures in the ecosystem—insects and other arthropods—to solve some of Africa's most pressing challenges: food security, environmental sustainability, and public health.
In Africa, factors related to population growth, poverty, and climate change are increasing pressure on habitats and biodiversity, leading to ecosystems that are less resilient and more vulnerable to shocks and disturbances 1 . By 2050, the world's 9 billion people will require 60% more food and 30% more water to ensure sustainable livelihoods, with natural resources already threatened by climate change and unsustainable practices 2 .
Projected challenges for African agriculture by 2050
One of icipe's most celebrated innovations is the push-pull technology, an ingenious approach that manages agricultural pests and improves soil fertility simultaneously.
This clever system works by planting certain companion crops alongside staple foods:
Research has demonstrated remarkable benefits: the push-pull farming system in Kenya has led to significant implications for economic and social welfare in communities that have adopted it 3 .
icipe's Insects for Food, Feed and Other Uses (INSEFF) Programme takes the concept of sustainability even further by developing a circular economy around insects.
The program addresses critical issues through multiple innovative approaches:
The novelty of icipe's INSEFF programme lies in its holistic view of the edible insect sector and opportunities for a circular economy 8 .
By seeing value where others see waste, icipe has created sustainable enterprises that simultaneously address food security, waste management, and economic development.
In a groundbreaking study, icipe scientists made a remarkable discovery: a single fungal isolate could effectively target multiple disease vectors that plague African communities. The research focused on Metarhizium anisopliae, isolate ICIPE 7—a naturally occurring fungus that acts as an entomopathogen (insect-killing microorganism) 9 .
The research team implemented carefully designed laboratory bioassays to evaluate the fungus's effectiveness:
| Vector | Optimal Concentration | LT50 | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mosquitoes (An. arabiensis) | 10^9 spores/mL | 12 days | Dose-dependent mortality |
| Tsetse flies (G. fuscipes) | 10^9 spores/mL | 16 days | Same concentration effective against multiple species |
| Tick nymphs | 10^9 spores/mL | 11 days | Demonstrated cross-species efficacy |
| Adult ticks | 10^9 spores/mL | 20 days | Longer mortality time but still effective |
Table 1: Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae (ICIPE 7) Against Disease Vectors
Perhaps most remarkably, the research showed that even brief exposure times (as short as 1 minute) resulted in significant mortality, increasing the practical applicability of this approach 9 . The number of spores that attached to the vectors was dose-dependent, confirming the contact-based mechanism of action.
The scientific importance of these findings cannot be overstated. Traditionally, vector control has relied heavily on chemical insecticides, leading to widespread resistance and environmental concerns. This fungal isolate offers a biorational alternative that works through multiple modes of action, reducing the likelihood of resistance development. As the fungus spores attach to the arthropod on contact, they germinate and penetrate through the cuticle using enzymes and mechanical force to colonize the hemocoel, eventually causing death 9 .
icipe's groundbreaking work relies on sophisticated research tools and approaches that allow scientists to understand and harness natural processes:
| Research Tool/Approach | Function in Environmental Health Research |
|---|---|
| Behavioral & Chemical Ecology | Studies insect behavior and chemical signals to develop environmentally-sound pest control methods |
| Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) | Identifies chemical compounds like pheromones that mediate insect behavior |
| Biological Control Agents | Uses natural enemies (like fungi) to target pests and disease vectors while minimizing environmental impact |
| Nature-Based Solutions | Develops farming practices that work with ecological principles rather against them |
| Integrated Pest Management | Combines multiple approaches for sustainable pest control while conserving beneficial insects |
Table 2: Key Research Approaches and Their Functions
The Behavioral and Chemical Ecology Unit at icipe is particularly well-equipped with various analytical chemistry instruments including volatile collection systems, gas chromatographs, coupled gas chromatography-electroantennographic detection systems, and mass spectrometers to identify, formulate and evaluate pheromones, kairomones, allomones and hormones mediating insect behavior .
The true measure of icipe's success lies not in laboratory results but in real-world impact. Research has demonstrated remarkable economic benefits from adopting these nature-based solutions:
| Innovation | Economic Impact | Social Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Push-pull farming system | Significant improvement in economic and social welfare 3 | Enhanced livelihoods for small-scale farmers |
| Insect-based feed sector | 4% of conventional animal feed protein demand in Kenya met by insects 8 | Creation of entrepreneurial opportunities |
| Replacement of conventional protein with insect-based feed | Kenyan economy improved by $16-159 million 8 | Potential to lift 0.07-0.74 million people out of poverty yearly |
| Tsetse repellant collar technology | Improved farm performance and household welfare 3 | Better health for livestock and increased productivity |
Table 3: Economic and Social Impacts of icipe's Innovations
icipe's approaches directly address the interconnected challenges of ecosystem degradation and climate change. Their research focuses on defining strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation while contributing to the conservation and sustainable utilization of biodiversity 1 . The emphasis on nature-based solutions represents a paradigm shift from combating nature to working with it—a shift that is increasingly crucial as climate change intensifies pressure on already vulnerable agricultural systems.
The replacement of conventional protein with insect-based alternatives illustrates the powerful ripple effects of these innovations. Making fish and maize available for human consumption rather than animal feed could feed 0.47-4.8 million people per year while creating employment opportunities for 3,300-33,000 people annually 8 .
As we look to the future, the work of institutions like icipe has never been more critical. The challenges of population growth, climate change, and biodiversity loss require solutions that are as interconnected as the problems themselves. icipe's research provides a blueprint for a different kind of development—one that respects ecological boundaries while meeting human needs.
The path forward will require greater investment in research, policy frameworks that support nature-based solutions, and cross-sector partnerships to scale successful innovations 2 . As Dr. Subramanian Sevgan, Head of Environmental Health at icipe, emphasizes, opportunities and challenges in scaling nature-based solutions for sustainable development need to be addressed through collaborative effort 2 .
What makes icipe's work so compelling is not just the scientific innovation but the underlying philosophy: that the most sustainable solutions often come from understanding and working with nature's own wisdom. In the delicate balance of ecosystems, and in the intricate lives of the smallest creatures, we may find the keys to our collective future on this planet.
Continued innovation in nature-based solutions and biological controls
Incorporating successful approaches into national agricultural strategies
Expanding proven technologies across diverse African agro-ecosystems
Building resilient food systems that work in harmony with nature