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Published on
19.06.25
At the 17th Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Gates Foundation, and the International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA) launched the International Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control (C4RPWC).
IITA will lead a critical workstream under the bold, new global initiative to combat the devastating Red Palm Weevil (RPW). This invasive pest, RPW, threatens date palms and livelihoods across the Middle East, North Africa, and beyond.
The Consortium for Red Palm Weevil Control (C4RPWC), officially launched at the prestigious Khalifa International Award for Date Palm and Agricultural Innovation ceremony in Abu Dhabi on 16 April 2025, brings together global scientific partners in a coordinated effort to tackle RPW through innovation, collaboration, and scaling. ICARDA leads the initiative, which was jointly supported by the United Arab Emirates and the Gates Foundation.
IITA, through its Genome Editing Platform in Nairobi, Kenya, will lead Workstream 2: Biotechnological Innovations, exploring cutting-edge tools such as genome editing, RNA interference (RNAi), and microbiome disruption to target and weaken the pest’s biology. These novel technologies aim to deliver sustainable and precise pest control strategies, especially for regions where RPW has proven most destructive.