Millions in Africa face starvation as huge locust swarms descend . . . Locust outbreak could leave nearly 5 million people in Africa facing starvation The crisis comes on top of food insecurity already exacerbated by COVID-19 A locust swarm can contain as many as 80 million adults A swarm can consume the same amount of food in one day as 35,000 people
How can we control locust swarms? | World Economic Forum From the Biblical plagues of Egypt to a major infestation in Madacasgar two years ago, locust swarms have caused chaos throughout history Just one swarm can cover 20% of the land surface of the Earth, affecting the livelihood of 10% of the world’s population by consuming up to 200 tonnes of vegetation per day
Locust swarms threaten to devastate crops in eastern Africa | World . . . From January to August, massive desert locust swarms swept across Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya, ravaging crops and decimating pasture in the worst outbreak in decades Puntland authorities estimate that almost one-third of farmers have gone out of business and more than 35,000 families have lost jobs and income due to the devastation caused by
Locust swarms are devastating agriculture across the Horn of Africa . . . A farmers’ association in Kenya’s northern Laikipia area said it was planning aerial spraying of pesticides to combat the worst locust plague since 1954 The FAO estimated one swarm in Kenya to be 40 km wide by 60 km long (25 by 40 miles)
What worries Africas young people about climate change? | World . . . East Africa has been battling locust infestations in recent years that have ravaged crops and triggered food insecurity Hundreds of millions of locusts swept across Ethiopia, Somalia and Kenya last year in what the United Nations called the worst outbreak in a quarter of a century, with Uganda, Eritrea and Djibouti also affected
International Womens Day: The women making history in 2021 | World . . . The Super Bowl, on 7 February, enjoyed a slew of female firsts, with Amanda Gorman the first poet to perform, and Sarah Thomas becoming the first woman to officiate as referee, while Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant coaches Maral Javadifar and Lori Locust became the first female coaches to win a Super Bowl title
What effect to insects and pests have on crop production? | World . . . "Others, such as the desert locust (the world's most destructive migratory pest), are expected to change their migratory routes and geographical distribution because of climate change " There was an increased risk of pests spreading in agricultural and forestry ecosystems, especially in cooler Arctic, boreal, temperate and subtropical regions
Why all governments need to focus on crisis preparedness | World . . . But as COVID-19 coincides with cyclones in South Asia and the Pacific and vast locust swarms in East Africa, the need to prepare for a world of unexpected shocks has become clearer than ever Epidemics, floods, storms, droughts, and wildfires are all expected to become more frequent and severe, affecting hundreds of millions of people each year