Paola Sierra-Baquero

The project's objectives are: -i) Characterizing cashew and mango production systems based on social, economic, productive, and phytosanitary aspects, as well as their impact on current crop productivity constraints. ii) Identify key potential arthropod pests affecting crop productivity in cashew and mango, through morphology and molecular methods for species identification. iii) Assessing spatio-temporal dynamics of key pest insects by examining their association with the cashew agroecosystem cycle and environmental variables. iiii) Characterize the trophic functionality of entomofauna in cashew and mango by assessing pest occurrence and damage, as well as the presence of potential pests’ biological controllers. The main outcome will be the establishment of a baseline of which the primary pests affecting cashew agroecosystem contribute to integrated management strategies for sustainable crop production in Guinea-Bissau.