Nematodes threats to global food security

Presently, more than 925 million people around the world face extreme hunger and 2 billion people lack adequate food security. The first and foremost objective of the millennium development goals (MDGs) set in 2000 is to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger by the year 2015. Three years to the target date, plant-parasitic nematodes pose enormous threats to global food security, destroying at least 12.3% of global food production annually. This is estimated to be more than US$157 billion worldwide. Nematode diseases of crops are difficult to control because of the insidious nature of nematodes, and their diagnostic symptoms closely resemble that of other pathogens and abiotic diseases. In order to effectively combat nematodes pests, it is necessary to define the problem in order to correctly search for lasting management strategies. The food insecurity facing millions of people especially in developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America is real. Finding lasting solution to this problem presents a daunting challenge for nematologists. The challenges of the future lies in increasing knowledge of nematodes and to use this knowledge in training, research and development (R&D) of new technologies, methods and strategies to be used in effective and sustainable control of the plant parasitic nematodes.