From Swansea to Saudi Arabia – Professor’s promising research visit

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The Promising Research Center in Biological Control and Agricultural Information (BCARC) at Qassim University in Saudi Arabia recently hosted a visit by Swansea University’s Professor Tariq Butt.

Tariq Butt Saudi VisitProfessor Butt‌, Biocontrol and Natural Products (BANP) group leader in the Department of Biosciences, College of Science, visited BCARC to participate in a week of events including a series of meetings with researchers at BCARC and faculty members at the Plant Production and Protection Department, to discuss research progress and potential products under testing for biological control of arthropod pests and plant diseases.

Professor Butt also gave three presentations on Why we need to develop benign alternatives to chemical pesticides; Insect pathogenic fungi (EPF); and Enhancing the efficacy of EPF.

He also visited an organic farm and date palm farm and gave some insightful advice on some of the control tactics for pest problems found in those farms.

Professor Butt and BCARC are working closely together to develop products and strategies for efficacious use of entomopathogenic fungi in pest management programmes for the potential biocontrol organisms tested by BCARC's researchers.

During his visit, Professor Butt also discussed all matters related to risk assessment and registration of fungal biocontrol agents.

Professor Butt and BCARC have agreed to collaborate in the development of BCARC's biocontrol products, and to join BCARC's researchers in projects of mutual interests, exchange visits, and have a joint workshop at Qassim University.


Image caption
From left to right: Professor Ahmed Al-Rokaibah, Professor Mohammad El-Meleigi, Professor Nagdy Abdel-Baky, Professor Tariq Butt, Professor Ahmed Al-Turki, Professor Mohammad Aldeghairi, Professor Gamal Ibrahim, Ahmed Fouly, Dr Abdel-Fatah Mohamed, Dr Shaaban Moussa, Tech Saad Al-Mansour during Professor Tariq Butt’s visit to Qassim University in Saudi Arabia.