Group Leader,
Biopesticides
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology
Wernher and Beit Building (South) UCT Campus
Anzio Road, Observatory 7925
Cape Town, South Africa
E-mail: [email protected]
Tel: +27-21-4047693
Fax: +27-21-4067717
Education
University of Nairobi, Kenya, BSc in Agriculture, 1995
Egerton University, Kenya, MSc in Crop Protection, 2004
University of Nairobi, Kenya, PhD in Entomology, 2009
University of Cape Town, South Africa, Advanced Certificate in Project Management, 2014
Career History
Since Oct 2018, Group Leader, Biopesticides, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Cape Town Component, Cape Town, South Africa.
2013-2018, Programme Officer, Biosafety, ICGEB Cape Town
2009-2012, Project Biosafety Specialist, ICGEB Trieste, Italy and Cape Town, South Africa
2008, Deputy Coordinator, BiosafeTrain Project (a DANIDA funded Enhancement of Research Capacity programme), Nairobi, Kenya
2006-2008, Theme Leader, Environmental Impacts Assessment Group, Insect Resistant Maize for Africa Project (a Syngenta Foundation funded Programme), Nairobi, Kenya
2005, R&D Officer, Dudutech (K), Ltd., Naivasha, Kenya
2004, R&D Assistant, Dudutech (K), Ltd., Naivasha, Kenya
1996-2003, Assistant Teacher, Teachers Service Commission, Kenya
Selected publications
Okonkwo, C.O., Mawcha, K.T., Changwa, R., Ndolo, D., Babalola, O.O. 2026. Climate change and African agricultural resilience: A 10-year comprehensive review of adaptive capacity, policy, and environmental stewardship. Plant-Environment Interactions, 7, e70191.
Adebayo, A.A., Kutu, F.R., Ndolo, D., Orozco-Mosqueda, M. del C., Santoyo, G., Babalola, O.O. 2026. Soil microbiota and rhizosphere dynamics: Ecological mechanisms driving crop stress adaptation in climate-smart agriculture. Food and Energy Security, 15(4), e70286.
Mawcha, K.T., Yang, W., Ndolo, D. 2026. Identification of sources of Fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol resistance in Ethiopian wheat cultivars. Journal of Plant Pathology, 108, 661–676.
Mawcha, K.T., Kyampaire, D., Marciale, C., Simiyu-Wafukho, S., Chinyama, C., Babalola, O.O., Kinyanjui, G., Ndolo, D. 2025. An overview of biopesticide regulatory frameworks in selected countries in Southern Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 9, 1522526.
Mawcha, K.T., Kinyanjui, G., Berhe, D.H., Hategekimana, A., Joelle, K., Ndolo, D. 2025. An overview of sustainable management strategies for Tuta absoluta. International Journal of Pest Management, 71(1), 1–24.
Kinyanjui, G., Mawcha, K.T., Ndolo, D. 2025. Advancing entomopathogenic fungi for improved management of Phthorimaea (Tuta) absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae). Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 16(1), pmaf034.
Mawcha, K.T., Assefa, M.K., Xu, Y., Zhang, N., Yang, W., Ndolo, D. 2025. Characterization of Fusarium stem rot pathogens and associated chemotypes in wheat crops of Hebei Province, China. NFS Journal, 38, 100230.
Kinyanjui, G., Mawcha, K.T., Malinga, L.N., Soobramoney, K., Ṋethononda, P., Assefa, Y., Okonkwo, C.O., Ndolo, D. 2025. Managing African armyworm outbreaks in sub-Saharan Africa: Current strategies and future directions. Insects, 16(6), 645
Niassy, S., Bayendi Loudit, S., Gnonlonfin, B., Malecha, L., Munyua, L., Oronje, M., Shirley, K., Vanderberg, R., Chiatoh, M., Simiyu, S., Ndolo, D., Maiga, I., Ngaruiya, P., Moore, S., Akutse, K., Rwomushana, I., Bateman, M. 2025. An African perspective for a harmonised policies framework on PPPs. African Journal of Rural Development, 10(3), 311–329.
Mawcha, K.T., Malinga, L., Muir, D., Ge, J., Ndolo, D. 2025. Recent advances in biopesticide research and development with a focus on microbials. F1000Research, 13, 1071.
Mawcha, K.T., Ndolo, D., Yang, W., Babalola, O.O. 2024. Development of EMS mutagenized wheat mutant lines resistant to Fusarium crown rot and Fusarium head blight. Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, 12, 98–121.
Mawcha, K.T., Kinyanjui, G., Simiyu-Wafukho, S., Babalola, O.O., Ndolo, D.O. 2024. Biopesticides for sustainable agriculture: A review of their role in integrated pest management. In: Kumar, S. (Ed.), Insecticides in Pest Control – Impact, Challenges and Strategies. IntechOpen.
Akanmu, A.O., Akol, A.M., Ndolo, D.O., Kutu, F.R., Babalola, O.O. 2023. Agroecological techniques: Adoption of safe and sustainable agricultural practices among the smallholder farmers in Africa. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 7, 1143061.
Marciale, C., Njuguna, E., Ndolo, D.O. 2023. Considerations for addressing barriers to biopesticide registration and adoption in Sub-Saharan Africa. Outlooks on Pest Management, 34(6), 248–253.
Ashaolu, C.A., Okonkwo, C.O., Njuguna, E., Ndolo, D. 2022. Recommendations for effective and sustainable regulation of biopesticides in Nigeria. Sustainability, 14(5), 2846.
Njuguna, E., Nethononda, P., Maredia, K., Mbabazi, R., Kachapulula, P., Rowe, A., Ndolo, D. 2021. Experiences and perspectives on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) management in Sub-Saharan Africa. Journal of Integrated Pest Management, 12(1), 1–9.
Ndolo, D., Njuguna, E., Adetunji, C.O., Harbor, C., Rowe, A., den Breeyen, A., Sangeetha, J., Singh, G., Szewczyk, B., Anjorin, T.S., Thangadurai, D., Hospet, R. 2019. Research and development of biopesticides: Challenges and prospects. Outlooks on Pest Management, 30(6), 267–276.
Ndolo, D.O., Songa, J.S., Lövei, G.L. 2018. Tri-trophic impacts of Bt-transgenic maize on parasitoid size and fluctuating asymmetry in native vs. novel host–parasitoid interactions in East Africa. Insects, 9(2), 38.
Ndolo, D.O., Wach, M., Rüdelsheim, P., Craig, W. 2018. A curriculum-based approach to teaching biosafety through eLearning. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 6, 42.
Craig, W., Obonyo, D.N., Tepfer, M.A. 2017. Strategy for integrating science into regulatory decision-making for GMOs. In: Adenle, A.A., Morris, E.J., Murphy, D.J. (Eds.), Genetically Modified Organisms in Developing Countries: Risk Analysis and Governance. Cambridge University Press, UK, pp. 26–38.
Racovita, M., Obonyo, D.N., Craig, W., Ripandelli, D. 2015. What are the non-food impacts of GM crop cultivation on farmers’ health? A systematic review. Environmental Evidence, 4, 17.