Soybean rust awareness and effective management options

Soybean Disease and Pest Webinar

Soybean rust awareness and effective management options

Soybean is of enormous importance globally, primarily due to its utilization as a source of protein for human livestock consumption and industrial needs. In Africa, an escalating demand for high-quality soybean protein and oil for food, animal feed, and industrial uses is driving a surge in production. Yet just ~1% of the global total is produced in Africa, necessitating a significant import burden despite major efforts to increase soybean cultivation.

This growth is challenged by multiple factors that contribute to yield losses. A significant threat to soybean production in Africa is soybean rust. Present in most soybean-producing countries in the continent, it causes yield losses of up to 90% if unmanaged. Lack of awareness about the disease symptoms and lack of information on available management options has led to more yield losses, causing farmers to lose interest in the crop. To avoid yield loss, we need strategies to succeed in managing the disease.

In this webinar, we will highlight the cause of soybean rust and the available management options through a panel interview with experienced soybean experts. They will share their experience on rust identification and the management strategies that have worked for them.