About Us - Historical Background

Mali Project (1999-2004)

In 1999, a new project was initiated and funded by USAID Mali with Virginia Tech IPM CRSP (Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program) serving as the management entity. This project arose from a consulting visit to the Toxicology Division at the Central Veterinary Laboratory and a recognition by all stakeholders of the need for capacity building at the toxicology laboratory. The project was funded from 1999-2003 with a no-cost extension until 2004 and included annual U.S.- and Mali-based training of residue chemists (Don Mullins, Jean Cobb), pesticide safety education (Pat Hipkins) using the train-the-trainer model, and oversight by two Mali site chairs (John Caldwell and later Keith Moore). One of the Malian chemists completed a master's degree at Virginia Tech and her research focused on pesticide residues in soil collected from the cotton-growing region in Mali. The dualistic approach of pesticide residue training and pesticide safety education provided an institutional reason for collaboration between Malian agricultural researchers and served as a networking model for the next project.

Phase 1 & 2 (1993-2002)

Virginia Tech has coordinated IPM CRSP West Africa activities since 1993. In the first 11 years, the IPM CRSP activities focused on Mali. Research efforts were directed towards improving yields of subsistence crops (millet, sorghum, cowpea, and others) using IPM practices from 1993- 1997 (Phase I) and later efforts were redirected to support of IPM research activities involving high value horticultural crops (green bean, mango, and others) from 1998- 2002 (Phase II).

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