Guide to Syngenta Bioline and to Integrated Crop Management (ICM)

Introduction

What is Biological Pest Control?

Biological Pest Control is using natural organisms as an alternative to, or in conjunction with Pesticides. It has become well established within protected crops and some field crops around the world.

Why use Biological Pest Control?

Pests in protected crops are provided with an ideal environment in which to live and breed, with equable temperatures, humidity and plenty of plant material on which to feed. Such conditions can result in very rapid multiplication of pests which, until now, has necessitated regular and routine spray programmes. Intensive programmes have, in turn, often led to the development of 'super bugs' - strains that are resistant to some of the active ingredients in chemical sprays.

Is Resistance a real threat?

Spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) was the first glasshouse pest to develop resistance in 1949. More recently leafminers, aphids, whiteflies and thrips have developed resistance to a wide range of chemicals, putting in doubt the continued successful use of some pesticides as a means of control.

So what is ICM?

As an effective partner for chemicals, we produce natural enemies for use in Integrated Crop Management (ICM) or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programmes - programmes which also take into consideration chemical choice, usage and the cropping system.

Any use of natural enemies has to be carefully planned, by understanding each nursery (pests, diseases, cropping systems and rotations, etc.) and its particular problems. The better the understanding of all the important parameters, the better the results.

So what is the next step?

The first stage in any programme is to detail in advance the cropping system and anticipated pests and diseases, as quantification of the pest problem may only be possible after a season’s careful monitoring. However, once this is done, natural enemy usage can be planned with some degree of precision.

The second stage is to use suitable natural enemies which are of consistent quality, presented in the best delivery system. The change to an ICM or IPM programme is sometimes a difficult transition to make and the grower must want to change, either because there are problems using existing pest control methods or because of increasing demands from customers and food retailers.

Natural enemy use has to be totally integrated into the husbandry system of the nursery and a number of parameters have to be taken into account. They include:

• Pests and diseases likely to occur
• Cropping system, plant varieties, rotations, growing temperatures, etc.
• Chemical controls available to the grower.
• Chemicals used during the past 12 months. (some chemicals persist for many months, killing natural enemies).
• Growing conditions and location
• Vegetation surrounding the crop
• Origin of plant material. (It is possible that some plant material could carry pests and disease).
• Marketing systems (Supermarkets may restrict pesticide use and encourage natural enemy use).

Careful attention to detail can ensure that an IPM programme starts successfully, and in the following years substantial amounts of time and money can be saved.