More than 280 researchers gathered in Nanjing from October 16 to 19 for the inaugural Insect Migration and Radar Aeroecology Conference (IMaRA 2026), sharing research findings and exploring new approaches to monitoring and controlling migratory pests.
Co-hosted by Nanjing Agricultural University and the China Society of Plant Protection, the conference brought together international experts from countries including the UK, the Netherlands, Israel, Switzerland, Sweden and Australia, alongside Chinese researchers.
Migratory pests can travel vast distances, sometimes crossing national borders and posing serious threats to agricultural production. As climate change and evolving farming practices affect their movements, understanding insect migration and improving early warning systems have become increasingly important for crop protection.
At the opening ceremony, Jiang Song, deputy secretary of the Party Committee of Nanjing Agricultural University, highlighted the need for stronger international collaboration in insect migration research. He said advances in understanding migration patterns and applying radar monitoring technology could support more effective pest surveillance and control.
Zheng Chuanlin, chair of the supervisory board of the China Society of Plant Protection, noted that rapid developments in insect radar technology had opened new possibilities for tracking migratory pests. He called for closer links between fundamental research and practical applications to safeguard food security and support sustainable agriculture.
Two keynote presentations illustrated how different fields of research can contribute to more effective pest management.
Wu Kongming, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, reviewed China's scientific response to the invasion of the fall armyworm. His presentation, "Monitoring, Early Warning, and Sustainable Control of Fall Armyworm Migration in China", examinedeco-friendly strategies to monitor, predict and sustainably manage the pest's spread.
Sanjay Sane, professor at India's National Centre for Biological Sciences and a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, explored how migrating insects integrate visual, olfactory and mechanical sensory feedback to navigate and control their flight. His presentation, "Sensory Feedback in Migrating Insects", offered insights that could inform pest interception and behaviour-based control strategies.
The conference also welcomed Don Reynolds, a pioneer in insect radar research, and Felix Liechti, a leading researcher in radar-based bird migration studies.
Throughout the four-day gathering, participants exchanged findings on radar monitoring innovations, insect migration behaviour and coordinated approaches to managing pests that move across national borders.
As the inaugural international conference dedicated to insect migration and radar aeroecology, IMaRA 2026 provides a forum for researchers from different disciplines and countries to exchange expertise, connect scientific discoveries with practical pest management and strengthen international research cooperation.
【我苏网】Exclusive: Inaugural Nanjing conference pools global expertise in migratory pest control
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