Global Plant Protection News

Registrations open to attend Pan-African Nematology Network workshop,
1-3 March 2023
From 1-3 March 2023, the second international PANEMA workshop will take place in Mbombela,
South Africa. This 3-day workshop, hosted by the University of Mpumalanga (in cooperation with
North West University, the Agricultural Research Council and with support from Syngenta), will bring
together trained nematologists, early-career researchers, students, agricultural extension workers,
farmers and other stakeholders from across South Africa, Africa and beyond. This event builds on the
success of the first PANEMA workshop, held in Eldoret, Kenya in February 2022, where more than
100 participants travelled from across Africa to attend the event.
Established in 2021, in the framework of the Erasmus+ project Capacity Building in Higher Education
(CBHE): Nematology Education in Sub-Sahara Africa (NEMEDUSSA), PANEMA (Pan-African
Nematology Network) aims to promote networking and academic exchange between nematologists
working in Africa. The focus of the network and workshop is on sharing good educational practices,
creating and strengthening networks between higher education institutes (HEIs) and other
stakeholders, and providing additional educational opportunities for those working in agriculture and
nematology.
The workshop aims to have a good balance between seminars and hands-on practice in the field and
lab, to enhance life-long learning and create opportunities for interactive discussions and networking
between stakeholders. It is also a platform where students and African nematologists can showcase
their projects and research. Next to nematode-related topics such as ‘Nematology and the One Earth
Approach’, this workshop will focus on training in scientific communication skills to create better
awareness about nematodes.
This workshop is open to farmers, agricultural extension workers, students, researchers,
nematologists and interested parties. Tthey are invited to register to attend this event in Mbombela,
which can also be followed free online. For the programme and registration link, please go to
https://nemedussa.ugent.be/2nd-panema-workshop-1-3-march-2023-2/ .
For more information about the NEMEDUSSA project and upcoming PANEMA events, please see
http://www.nemedussa.ugent.be. This project is funded with support from the European Commission.
Nematology Coordination Office: Erasmus+ CBHE project Nematology Education in Sub-Saharan
Africa (NEMEDUSSA)
For more information, reach out to: nemedussa@ugent.be
28/10/2022
What are nematodes?
Nematodes or roundworms cause significant damage and yield loss to a wide variety of crops, often together with
other pathogens. At the same time, nematodes can also be used as bio-control agents against insect pests and/or as
bio-control agents for environmental health and biodiversity. The NEMEDUSSA project aims to increase awareness
about nematodes and expand educational and research capacities in HEIs in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) in this field,
and is a joint effort by a consortium of Universities from Sub-Sahara Africa and Europe. The PANEMA workshop is the
next step in bringing nematologists together to collaborate on ways forward to address this pressing agricultural