Succès finlandais pour le colza bio

En Finlande, la culture biologique du colza est importante depuis plus longtemps que chez nous. Après un démarrage difficile, les agriculteurs biologiques finlandais ont atteint une surface de près de 3000 hectares de colza. L’expérience finlandaise peut nous être précieuse surtout dans le domaine de la lutte contre le méligèthe et dans celui des sous-semis (semis de couverture). La Finlande cultive en bio 2000 à 3000 hectares de colza d’été depuis près de 10 ans. L’huile de colza pressée à froid du pays ne se vend pas seulement dans les magasins bio, mais aussi dans la plupart des supermarchés. Cela n’empêche pas la demande de dépasser l’offre, et les huileries prennent de nouveaux producteurs sous contrat

Bioraps: Erfolg auch in Finnland

In Finnland gibt es schon länger einen nennenswerten Anbau von Bioraps als bei uns. Nach einigen Startschwierigkeiten sind Finnlands Biobäuerinnen und Biobauern bei einer Anbaufläche von gegen 3000 Hektaren angelangt. Lernen können wir aus der finnischen Erfahrung vor allem zu den Themen Rapsglanzkäfer und Untersaaten. Seit etwa 10 Jahren werden in Finnland jährlich 2000–3000 Hektaren Biosommerraps angebaut. Einheimisches kalt gepresstes Biorapsöl ist nicht nur in Bioläden, sondern auch in den meisten Supermärkten erhältlich. Auch in Finnland übersteigt die Nachfrage immer noch das Angebot; die Ölpressen nehmen zurzeit nur noch Bioproduzenten neu unter Vertrag

Developing ecostacking techniques for pollen beetle management in oilseed rape

In this review, we examine how the principles of ecostacking could be used to manage the pollen beetle Brassicogethes aeneus in oilseed crucifer crops. We further describe hindrances preventing progress of keeping the pest under full biological control across Europe, and for other similar pest management situations. Ecological processes at different levels need to be considered and understood. The beneficial functions, which the various ecosystem service providers offer, need to be combined and exploited in an additive or synergistic manner, i.e., ecostacked. Levels to consider include landscape and off-crop habitats (e.g., field margins) and their effects on pest management in the rapeseed crop; and possibilities to generate the key ecosystem services within the crop itself; for example, by vegetation management (e.g., undersowing, variety mixtures, companion and trap crops), soil management (biotic and abiotic; fostering and steering soil microbial communities to benefit biocontrol), and crop management, including crop protection treatments and their impacts on ecosystem service provision. All these processes affect the populations of the pollen beetle. Abundant information exists about most of the key processes important in this context. Utilizing this knowledge and stacking the various beneficial ecosystem service functions into a comprehensive management strategy for the pollen beetle, has not been attempted nor described. After illustrating the potential of ecostacking in solving crop protection problems, as it is apparent in the case of the pollen beetle, we analyze a situation where our approach was lost in translation. The European Union Horizon 2020 program chose to support our vision of ecostacking with a 10million euro grant. Administrative decisions by the coordinating university (not to accept to host the grant), and subsequent failure of the European Commission and its Research Executive Agency to demonstrate leadership on issues of research policy, integrity, and ethics in the handling of the project, resulted in a shift of emphasis away from solutions based on integrative biocontrol.Peer reviewe

Facilitating the registration of biocontrol organisms, plant extracts and semiochemicals in Europe

The legal regulation of plant protection products (Dir. 91/414/ EEC) is a bottleneck in the market introduction of new microbial biocontrol agents, plant extracts and pheromones. In contrast, invertebrate biocontrol agents (“beneficials”) are not registered at EU level. The EU-funded project REBECA suggested improvements to accelerate the regulation process and make it more cost-effective, without compromises to the level of safety. Representatives of all stakeholder groups participated in the REBECA workshops. The EU Commission and Member States are encouraged to improve the registration of biocontrol organisms, plant extracts and semiochemicals at EU and/or national level. The full proposals can be found at www.rebeca-net.de

Compatibility between the endoparasitoid Hyposoter didymator and the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium brunneum: A laboratory simulation for the simultaneous use to control Spodoptera littoralis

BACKGROUND The cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis, is one of the most destructive pests in the Mediterranean basin, being predominantly controlled using synthetic chemical pesticides. Strain EAMa 01/58‐Su of the fungus Metarhizium brunneum and the parasitoid Hyposoter didymator are promising biological control agents for this pest. In this study, we assessed the compatibility between these two agents to control S. littoralis under joint attack scenarios. RESULTS Firstly, the direct and indirect effects of the fungus towards parasitoid adults were studied. The fungus significantly decreased life expectancy of the parasitoid (mortality=62.5%; mean lethal concentration=1.85×106 conidia ml‐1; average survival time=92.2h) when applied at high concentrations (108 conidia ml‐1), whereas it did not affect the reproductive potential of the parasitoid females during the three days after treatment. Secondly, the combinations between the two agents to control S. littoralis under different simultaneous use scenarios (inoculation of S. littoralis larvae with the fungus before being exposed to parasitoid females and vice versa) were investigated, with additive effect in all cases. A significant effect on fitness (preimaginal development time and reproductive potential) of the F1 parasitoid generation were detected. Moreover, parasitization significantly reduced the total haemocytes in S. littoralis haemolymph compared with the control, promoting fungal infection. Finally, parasitoids showed a significant preference for non‐inoculated S. littoralis larvae. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrated compatibility (additive effect) between fungus and parasitoid under different joint attack scenarios to control S. littoralis in laboratory conditions. However, this will be supported by our ongoing greenhouse and field studies

Countertrade arrangements in international trade: A tool for creating competitive advantage?

This article discusses microeconomic aspects influencing international intra-industry competitiveness. Countertrade arrangements represent one option available to firms for market entry, along with alternatives such as licensing, plant delivery, or joint venture. The main motivations for countertrade deals, including the element of price discrimination and the self-financing character of barter arrangements, are analysed. Countertrade transactions are an efficient means for firms to implement trade in an environment influenced by government interventions and restricted or limited business practices. It is difficult to claim, however, that they are more efficient than other arrangements in the absence of such distortions.Countertrade competitive advantage compensation agreements joint ventures

Ecological risks of biological control agents: impacts on IPM

Since the early days of integrated pest management a sound ecological foundation has been considered essential for the development of effective systems. From time to time, there have been attempts to evaluate the ways in which ecological theory is exploited in pest control, and to review the lessons that ecologists learn from pest management. In the last 20 years there have been many developments within the contribution of ecological theory to integrated pest management, and the objective of this book is to capture some of the new themes in both pest management and ecology that have emerged and to provide an updated assessment of the role that basic ecology plays in the development of rational and sustainable pest management practices. The major themes are examined, assessing the significance and potential impact of recent technological and conceptual developments for the future of integrated pest management