September 30, 2025 | ANBA |
A six-member delegation from Oman visited Brazil’s Embrapa Coastal Tablelands Unit in Sergipe to receive training on pest management for coconut and date palms. Led by Embrapa specialists Adenir Teodoro, Élio Guzzo, and Aldomário Negrisoli, the program focused on technologies used to control the South American palm weevil (Rhynchophorus palmarum) and their adaptation for combating the red palm weevil (Rhynchophorus ferrugineus), a major pest devastating date palms in Oman and the Middle East.
The training followed a visit by Brazilian researchers to Oman last year and was coordinated through the Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) under Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Activities included presentations of research, lab and field visits, and discussions on building technical and scientific partnerships between Embrapa and Oman’s Ministry of Agriculture.
Researchers emphasized that the red palm weevil is considered the world’s most destructive palm pest, more aggressive than its South American counterpart. Knowledge sharing is expected to strengthen Oman’s pest management while also preparing Brazil in case the pest is introduced into its plantations. Rashid Al Shidi, Oman’s Director of Agricultural Defense, stated the goal is to build alliances with Brazil to find effective, sustainable solutions for controlling critical crop pests.
