Horticulturalists need better knowledge of lower impact, alternative means of pest control, according to the findings of a research programme being run by levy board AHDB.

Research being conducted as part of AHDB’s five-year AMBER project has revealed a lack of knowledge around biopesticides is leading to inefficient use of products and hampering the uptake of more sustainable pest control measures. Researchers said growers need access to more independent advice on available biopesticides and their suitable uses, especially in light of reductions in conventional chemistry products, which are being lost through tighter regulation and developing resistance.

Biopesticides are plant protection products formulated using living microorganisms (including from plant extracts or microbes). AHDB has said that within the next two decades the number of biopesticides available to farmers is likely to exceed the range of conventional chemistry. Biopesticides are favoured because they are thought to represent a lower risk to human health and the environment; they form a key part of integrated pest and disease management programmes (IPDM).

Observation trials carried out in 2016 have highlighted areas for improvement in biopesticide use. These include changing application practices and conditions to improve the preparations’ performance. The trials revealed that biopesticide performance can vary depending on the quantity of product used, the quantity of water, and the location within the crop to be targeted with treatment, alongside environmental factors.

The AMBER project is being carried out with the University of Warwick. David Chandler, principal research fellow at Warwick, commented, “It was clear from our observation trials that there was a lack of understanding about how biopesticide efficacy is affected by factors such as population sizes of pests and diseases, environmental factors such as exposure to UVA and B and water volumes. More information needs to be given to growers on how to apply biopesticides in practical situations. This could be done through modifications to improve labeling.”

Joe Martin, crop protection senior scientist at AHDB said, “In a survey we conducted as part of AMBER, we found that growers perceived biopesticides to be unreliable, however we believe this could be in part as a result of incorrect applications. We need to make sure growers are provided with as much knowledge as possible about the optimum conditions required for good performance of each biopesticide in order to identify potential improvements in application.”

The next step for the AMBER programme is to incorporate biopesticides into treatment regimes that will be tested on commercial nurseries. A new website has been launched to keep growers updated with all the AMBER project news. Visit the website here.