Integrated crop management for sustainable crop protection

A recently completed member subscription–funded research project has evaluated the prospects for successful integration of conventional crop protection methods with strategies using more environmentally benign products and techniques, in order to comply with the changing legislation and meet environmental concerns.

Crop production is entering an era in which pesticide availability will be more restricted.

Farmers and growers will need to adopt integrated approaches, utilising fewer pesticides to maintain yield, safety and quality of crops. The accepted thresholds for raw material quality may need to be revised to accommodate the limitations of revised crop protection techniques, which may not prevent blemishes arising from pest and disease damage. Many of these new drivers and limitations were incorporated into the latest edition of Pesticide controls in the food chain (Guideline 19), which was published early in 2013.

Our research has shown that replacement of traditional crop protection measures with alternative techniques will lead to different results. One particular field trial, to evaluate the efficacy of biocontrol treatments on the development of leek rust, was set up in a commercial crop of transplanted leeks in 2012. Results suggested that control was less effective using biofungicides compared to conventional products, but was better than no treatment.

In August 2013 we published a white paper on sustainable crop production in general and the reduction of pesticide use. For a free electronic copy of this, e–mail auto@campdenbri.co.uk with the subject line: send protection.

And you can hear project manager Richard Stanley discussing the issues involved here.

Richard Stanley
+44(0)1386 842004
richard.stanley@campdenbri.co.uk