In East Africa, a combination of biological controls, cultural practices and new pest-resistant varieties helps reduce damage to valuable tomato export crops. Root-knot nematodes are a chronic problem for vegetable growers. Crops do not thrive on land that’s severely affected, so it’s often abandoned. Export markets for vegetables from East Africa are booming. But growers must make sure their produce meets the safety standards set by importing countries. This means they can’t use harmful pesticides. Many smallholders in western Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda now practise safe production, using biological controls and resistant varieties. A small company in Kenya already produces 40 kgs a week of a biological fungicide. And Kenya has amended its registration system to include biopesticides. So, there’s a huge potential.