Advances and innovations in sustainable management of maize storage pests to supply safe food and feed

Abstract

Maize is one of the most important cereal crops in Sri Lanka and the world. With the increase of the world population, demand for maize keeps on increasing, which is accelerated by the increasing demand for poultry feed, for which maize is the main energy source. The loss of grain in quantity and the deterioration of quality by storage pests remain a main concern. The preservation of maize during storage needs to be done sustainably. Considering the drawbacks of the traditional storage methods, farmers shifted to chemical pesticides to preserve stored grain. The public awareness of environmental safety, toxicity to humans and animals, and the increasing demand for pesticide-free food have created pressure on the research community to develop alternative measures for the management of stored products insect pests. The research findings indicate that the resistant traits in maize can be improved by identifying the resistance against storage pests in local varieties and through hybridization. The progress in the research, development, and application of biopesticides shows the potential for the use of local resources to produce biopesticides for managing the stored products pests. The alternative storage pest management strategies are considered simple, economical, effective, and environmentally friendly. It is recommended to formulate policies to invest more in IPM research, development, and implementation, which also include development and cultivation of resistant maize varieties and development and application of biopesticides against storage pests to ensure a sustainable and safe supply of maize grain for food and feed.