Seminar to Focus on Citrus Entomology

UC Davis postdoctoral  scholar Godwin Nutifafa Gidiglo will speak on "Citrus Entomology and the Impact on Global Fruit Production" at the UC Davis Entomology and Nematology seminar at 12:10 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30 in 122 Briggs Hall. 

His presentation, the first of the department's fall seminar series, also will be on Zoom. The Zoom link: https://ucdavis.zoom.us/j/95882849672.

"The international trade of specialty crops is vital to the global economy," Gidiglo writes in his abstract. "However, strict and evolving quality, quarantine, and residue requirements set by importing nations threaten to disrupt or terminate market access. My research programs are aimed at eliminating phytosanitary trade barriers by developing innovative, multidisciplinary postharvest management strategies that ensure compliance with international import standards."

"I formulate and evaluate integrated chemical, physical, biological, and toxicological control tactics," he relates. "These approaches target both perishable commodities (e.g., fresh fruits) and durable commodities (e.g., nuts, dried fruits). By effectively suppressing populations of stored-product and quarantine insect pests, these interventions safeguard product integrity, satisfy regulatory mandates, and secure longterm continuity for global agricultural trade."

A native of Ghana, Gidiglo is a former doctoral researcher at New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research.

He received his doctorate in 2011 from Massey University, where he studied the mechanisms behind the toxicity of Ethanedinitrile, an alternative fumigant to methyl bromide.  He holds a master's degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.

For any zoom issues, contact seminar coordinator Lisa Baik, assistant professor of insect biology, at [email protected].