Pest Control

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Maintaining proper pest control is vital to producing quality crop yields, and there are moreover multiple methods of controlling pest populations with varying environmental implications. Accordingly, integrated pest management (IPM) considers strategies that aim to reduce pest populations in a safe and economical manner. 

These strategies involve the use of pesticides, in tandem with various cultural agricultural practices, such as crop rotation, timing of planting and harvesting, sanitation, and 'natural enemies'. It is key to note that while natural pest control can arise from both living and non-living factors without human involvement, such as weather, or fungi that control a particular pest biological pest control involves human influence, including the use of beneficial insects that assist in controlling pest populations. 

Biological pest control moreover accounts for plant resistance and the use of pesticides. Biological control agents typically involve predators, parasites, and pathogens. These each act with the capacity to reduce, delay, or prevent infestations. Populations of insects that are beneficial to crop wellbeing can be increased by conservation, augmentation, and importation. 

Conservation requires a change in agricultural practices that enables the wellbeing of beneficial species, such as the moderation of pesticides that might harm species that assist in pest control.

Augmentation involves adding 'natural enemies' to the area where crops are grown. They can be bought or reared, and assist in increasing the deaths within these pest populations. 

Importation considers that pest infestations arise as non-native invasive species are introduced to the area. As such, 'natural enemies' can be imported and carefully introduced into these areas as a form of pest control. Methods involving importation must be meticulously monitored to ensure that their introduction does not cause further issues.

In accordance with this, it is pivotal that beneficial insects are protected and conserved. This might be achieved by:

• Increasing one's awareness and education about pests and other organisms.

• Gaining skills in identifying and distinguishing beneficial insects. 

• Minimizing the application of insecticides and similar substances. 

• Using selective insecticides and other mechanisms of pest control that target harmful species.

• Maintaining ground cover and the physical environment of crops. 

• Providing pollen, nectar, and other artificial sources of sustenance for beneficial organisms. 

Certain bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms function as forms of natural pest control, such as insect-specific viruses that can assist in controlling populations of destructive caterpillars. While particular pathogens have been mass-produced and packaged, most of these strategies have not been readily formulated and distributed as effective microbial insecticides.

If you have any tips or suggestions surrounding pest control, please feel free to share them with us!

The 'Grow Your Own Food' Initiative

Why should you Grow Your Own Food?

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    The Grow Your Own Food initiative aims to encourage students and citizens alike to grow their own produce and food crops.  Gardens and green spaces do not necessarily require a large area or excessive amounts of time and labour to be effective and beneficial.

Why should we grow our own food?

• Imported food sources or foods that have to travel across a long distance contribute to the amount of emissions released into the atmosphere. This includes the time that produce might spend travelling by means of air, land, and sea. On the other hand, growing your own food and buying local goods significantly reduce the amount of energy expended in transport, lessening our carbon footprint.
• Gardening fosters a stronger appreciation for and connection with nature. It allows individuals to better understand nature and natural ecosystems.
• Small-scale gardening and farming can provide a potential source of food, which reduces the economic strain of having to purchase produce for meals. This can alleviate food insecurity since it offers a sustainable food source that is inexpensive and relatively easy to maintain.
• It offers the opportunity of being more self-sufficient, as opposed to relying on external sources solely for food. This might be useful during natural disasters, embargos, or even apocalyptic scenarios where food might be scarce and prices inflated. 
• It provides a source of fresh fruits, vegetables, and other produce. This assists in ensuring a healthier and balanced diet is maintained. Fresh seasonal local produce offer better nutrients.
• Individuals can choose which crops they would like to grow and harvest, as well as maintain more control over what pesticides, fertilizers, and specialized garden practices, if any at all, are used in farming.
• Gardening can help develop an individual's community. For many, small-scale farming can help bring communities closer together through communal gardening or sharing different crops.
• It might develop into a hobby and provide a constructive avenue for both relaxation and productivity.
• It can become a skill that might develop into opportunities, such as a small or freelance business, and even inspire individuals to pursue a new academic or professional path.
• Gardening can make your yard and home look greener and more attractive.
• Crops and trees are beneficial to the environment as they provide oxygen, prevent erosion, offer protection and shade, and encourage biological diversity. Planting more of them can thus have a positive impact. 

Be sure to follow our blog and social media pages to keep updated with sustainable suggestions as well as more information and ideas for small-scale gardening!

Introduction to Sustainable Shifts

Sustainable Shifts: 

 A Brief Introduction 

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     The Caribbean region, like the rest of the world, is undoubtedly faced with a myriad of issues that affect its development and long-term sustainability. UWI STAT (The University of the West Indies Students Today Alumni Tomorrow) persists as an entity that aims to promote regionalism, enhance the academic experience of students, develop the leadership skills of students, and foster a strong community among the alma mater, current students, and university alumni. UWI STAT Ambassadors accordingly work to fulfil its mandates which collectively target some of the central areas of concern that arise around the development and wellbeing of the region. One of these essential areas is Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change. 

    

     Concurrently, the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly hindered the capacity of people to come together and work collectively on large and impactful projects, as well as actively promote climate action and activism. This presents the need to convert climate activism to a virtually accessible mode of delivery that focuses on the role of each citizen in making individual but collective changes that secure the betterment of our environment. 

   

     Considering this, the Sustainable Shifts Blog aims to raise discussions and promote awareness on an array of topics surrounding realistic and sustainable shifts that can be made at the individual capacity to encourage healthier climate practices and environmental outcomes. It is fundamental that we acknowledge that small progressive changes at a large scale can create a positive impact. 

   

     One of the first sub-initiatives of this blog is the ‘Grow Your Own Food’ initiative. Food insecurity and a reliance on imports are significant issues among many nations, including third-world countries. Gardening and small-scale farming can become simple methods of reducing the severity of food scarcity among certain groups and might further reduce the reliance on imported foreign food sources through quick-growing seasonal food crops. Growing more local crops can encourage better environmental and health attitudes, and support local ecosystems. Discussions on crop-growth might also raise awareness on the impact of climate change and natural phenomena on plant-life. 

    

     Our second sub-initiative further seeks to highlight the importance of the five R's, which include 'Reduce', 'Reuse', 'Recycle', 'Repair', and 'Rot'. Each of these play a key role in fostering sustainability and maintaining eco-friendlier low-impact livelihoods. Discussions on the five R's can surround tips for repurposing both non-compostable and compostable waste items, as well as amplifying the importance of proper waste disposal and waste reduction. 

    

     The last primary goal of this blog is to highlight and make local eco-businesses more accessible to students and citizens who read this blog and that are interested in supporting them by making sustainable shifts. It is imperative that the application of environmentalism is made available to all citizens, so that they can do their best to make responsible and environmentally friendly choices. Supporting local and small-scale businesses is similarly a productive method of developing our region and creating a stronger community. 

     

    Additionally, other important and interesting updates might be featured on this blog that are relevant to our passion for environmentalism. Brief visual summaries of each blog post will be posted on our Instagram  page @uwistatsta. Follow our social media page and blog to learn more about things that we can do to help our environment, and to keep updated on our latest uploads! 

   This blog targets students and related groups, but is open to all climate enthusiasts and activists. We look forward to hearing any feedback, suggestions, and experiences that you might have to offer! ♻