1School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, 4072, Australia
2Department of Agricultural Entomology, Centre for Plant Protection Studies, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, 641003, India
3Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Ecosciences Precinct, GPO Box 267, Brisbane, Queensland, 4001, Australia
4Department of Plant Biotechnology, Centre for Plant Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore-641003, India
5Indian Council of Agricultural Research, Krishi Anusandhan Bhawan-II, Pusa, New Delhi-110012, India
6Division of Entomology, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi-110012, India
7Central Warehousing Corporation, 4/1, Siri Institutional Area, August Kranti Marg, Hauz Khas, New Delhi-110016, India
8Food Corporation of India, Haca Bhawan, III Floor, opp. Public Garden Road, Hyderabad-500004, Telengana, India
9GrainCorp Ltd, 16 Mann Street, Toowoomba, Qld, 4350, Australia
*Email: g.walter@uq.edu.au
Online published on 20 May, 2016.
We outline a philosophical approach to Grand Challenge projects, with particular reference to our experience in our food security project involving the protection of stored grain from insect attack in two countries on different continents. A key consideration throughout has been the management of resistance in these pests to the valuable fumigant phosphine. Emphasis is given to the chain of research issues that required solution and the assembly of a well-integrated team, overlapping in skills for effective communication, in each country to solve the problems identified along that chain. A crucial aspect to maintaining direction is the inclusion of key end users in all deliberations, as well as the establishment and maintenance of effective outlets for the dissemination of practical recommendations. We finish with a summary of our achievements with respect to our approach to this food security Grand Challenge.
Stored-grain, insect pests, insect movement, phosphine resistance, grain supply chain, pest management, resistance management, research issues, strategies, achievements, recommendations
