Expert on Microbial Bio-Control Agents

Organizational Setting and Context

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations that leads international efforts to defeat hunger. FAO's goal is to achieve food security for all and ensure that people have regular access to enough high-quality food to lead active, healthy lives. With 195 members - 194 countries and the European Union, FAO works in over 130 countries worldwide and has started working in Sri Lanka since 1979 with its Representation (Country Office) opened in Colombo. The FAO contributes to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda through its Strategic Framework by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems, and through four Betters (Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life) - leaving no one behind.

The project, “Community-Based Bio-Control Agents (BCA) and Bio-Pesticides Production and Utilization System for Eco-Friendly Pest Management Programmes in Sri Lankan Agriculture,” aims to identify effective bio-control agents (BCAs), develop protocols and standard operating procedures (SOPs) for mass rearing, upgrade selected production and rearing facilities, and promote the adoption of BCAs as sustainable alternatives to chemical pesticides in Sri Lankan agriculture. The Expert on Bio-Control Agents will provide technical expertise and operational support towards the successful implementation of project activities and achievement of the expected outputs under the project.

The expert will support delivering the following key activities:

• Baseline Assessment and Situation Analysis • Technical Support for the Development of the SOPs on Identification and Evaluation of Biological Control Agents • Technical Support for Production, Field Validation and Demonstration • Capacity Building and Technology Transfer • Scaling-Up and Commercialization Support

Reporting Lines

The Expert on Bio-Control Agents will work under the overall supervision of the FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, the direct supervision of the Assistant FAO Representative (Programmes), and technical guidance of the Lead Technical Officer of the project. The incumbent will work closely with the relevant technical team at the Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute (HORDI) and other selected facilities.

Technical/Functional Skills

The objective of this assignment is to provide technical support for the identification, evaluation, efficacy assessment, mass rearing, field application, and popularization of microbial biological control agents (including EPN) for sustainable pest management in food crop production systems in Sri Lanka. The assignment will contribute to strengthening environmentally sustainable and economically viable pest management approaches aimed at reducing dependence on synthetic chemical pesticides while enhancing crop productivity, food safety, and ecosystem health.

Tasks and responsibilities

Baseline Assessment and Situation Analysis

• Support the assessment of the current status of biological control agents, products, technologies, production systems, and commercial availability in Sri Lanka. • Contribute to identifying technical, institutional, regulatory, commercial, and adoption-related gaps. • Support the prioritization of key horticultural pests and diseases for biological control interventions.

Technical Support for the Development of the SOPs on Identification and Evaluation of Biological Control Agents

• Provide technical support in identifying and prioritizing suitable microbial biological control agents, including EPNs. • Assist relevant institutions with the isolation, identification, characterization, and maintenance of promising indigenous biological control agents. • Provide technical guidance on assessing the efficacy, adaptability, persistence, environmental safety, and compatibility of biological control agents with IPM. • Support laboratory, greenhouse, and field-level evaluation and validation of selected biological control agents. • Contribute technical inputs to the identification of promising agents for further development, formulation, registration, mass production, and commercialization.

Technical Support for Production, Field Validation and Demonstration

• Provide technical inputs to the development and standardization of protocols for production, formulation, quality control, storage, handling, and application of biological control agents. • Support the development and implementation of laboratory, greenhouse, and field efficacy trials. • Assist in establishing appropriate pest and disease monitoring and evaluation approaches. • Provide technical support for field demonstrations under different agro-ecological and cropping conditions. • Contribute to the assessment of field performance, application methods, rates, timing, and persistence. • Support the documentation of results, best practices, challenges, and lessons learned, and provide technical recommendations for further scaling-up.

Capacity Building and Technology Transfer

• Support capacity-building activities for researchers and technical personnel on biological control research, evaluation, and production. • Provide technical guidance on the establishment and maintenance of biological control agent cultures. • Contributes to the preparation and review of SOPs, technical manuals, training materials, field guides, and extension materials. • Support the delivery of Training of Trainers (ToT) programmes for relevant technical personnel. • Contribute to strengthening institutional capacity for sustainable production and utilization of biological control agents. • Facilitate consideration of community-based or decentralized production approaches where technically and economically feasible...

Scaling-Up and Commercialization Support

• Provide technical support in identifying biological control agents and technologies with potential for large-scale production and commercialization. • Contribute technical recommendations on scaling up production, formulation, packaging, storage, shelf life, and application of selected biological control products. • . • Provide technical input to the development of sustainable production and delivery mechanisms to improve farmers’ access to quality biological control products. • Contribute to the development of a roadmap for strengthening national capacity in production, quality assurance, commercialization, and wider adoption of microbial biological control agents.

CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING

Minimum Requirements

• Advanced university degree in Agriculture, Plant Genetics, or any related field. • Postgraduate training and specialized expertise in Plant Protection, with demonstrated knowledge of microbial biological control and sustainable plant protection practices. • At least 5 years of research experience and professional exposure in microbial biological control (entomopathogenic fungi/bacteria/NPV and nematodes), Plant Protection, microbial bio pesticide formulations, molecular biology and related areas. • Working knowledge of English. Working knowledge of Sinhala and/or Tamil is required. • National of Sri Lanka or resident of the country with a valid work permit.

FAO Core Competencies

• Results Focus • Teamwork • Communication • Building Effective Relationships • Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement

Apply now

Added 1 day ago - Updated 3 hours ago - Source: fao.org