Cropro begins with a tiny grant to combat “one of humanity’s greatest foes,” the devastation caused by pests and illnesses on humans, animals, and crops. It all starts with the establishment of the Entomological Research Committee (Tropical Africa). One field entomologist is assigned to East Africa and the other to West Africa with the mission of collecting and studying insects that are harmful to people, agriculture, and animals. For identification, collected specimens are transferred to the British Museum, currently known as the Natural History Museum, in London.