Cassava is not a crop for the illiterate

Bangkok released over 250,000 tiny wasps to eradicate a plague of mealybugs that threaten Thailand’s $1.5 billion cassava crop (Wasps to fight Thai Cassava Plague; accessed July 19). In Africa where the method was pioneered; the continent is under threat of yet a new cassava viral attack known as Cassava Brown Streak Disease. East Africa’s annual 30 million tonne of cassava production is under threat with estimates of up to 70% yield loss in affected areas (Crop Biotech Update; accessed July 19)