The review of published scientific literature on the biological control of selected pests and diseases has lead to the identification of clear knowledge gaps highlighted in previous chapters. Further bottlenecks were revealed by seeking the possible reasons for the striking discrepancy between the rich inventory of potential biocontrol agents described by scientists and a very small number of commercial products on the market. To complement these analyses, the participants of Research Activity 4.3 of the European Network ENDURE organized consultations of experts (scientists, extension specialists and representatives of the Biocontrol industry) at the occasion of scientific meetings of three Working Groups of IOBC-wpr

Blum, B.

Köhl, J.

Nicot, P.C.

Ruocco, M.

English

Wageningen Yield 

68
Conclusions and perspectives
Perspectives for future research-and-development projects on biological
control of plant pests and diseases
Philippe C. Nicot1, Bernard Blum2, Jürgen Köhl3 and Michelina Ruocco4
1INRA, UR407, Unité de Pathologie Végétale, Domaine St Maurice, 84140 Montfavet, France
2International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association, Blauenstrasse 57, CH-4054 Basel, Switzerland
3Wageningen UR, Plant Research International, Droevendaalsesteeg 1, P.O. Box 69,
6700 AB Wageningen, The Netherlands
4CNR-IPP, Istituto pel la Protezione delle Piante, Via Univrsità 133, Portici (NA) Italy
The review of published scientific literature on the biological control of selected pests and diseases
has lead to the identification of clear knowledge gaps highlighted in previous chapters. Further
bottlenecks were revealed by seeking the possible reasons for the striking discrepancy between the
rich inventory of potential biocontrol agents described by scientists and a very small number of
commercial products on the market.
To complement these analyses, the participants of Research Activity 4.3 of the European
Network ENDURE organized consultations of experts (scientists, extension specialists and
representatives of the Biocontrol industry) at the occasion of scientific meetings of three Working
Groups of IOBC-wprs.
- Working Group "Integrated Control of Plant Pathogens": meeting on "Molecular Tools for
Understanding and Improving Biocontrol" in Interlaken (Switzerland) September 9-12, 2008.
(attended by P.C. Nicot and B. Blum – discussion session about the outlook on biocontrol
against plant diseases)
- Working Group “Multitrophic Interactions in Soil” meeting in Uppsala (Sweden), 10-13 June
2009. (attended by C. Alabouvette – roundtable about the outlook on biocontrol of soilborne
pests and diseases)
- Working Group "Insect Pathogens and Insect Parasitic Nematodes": meeting on "Future
Research and Development in the Use of Microbial Agents and Nematodes for Biological Insect
Control" in Pamplona (Spain), 22-25 June, 2009 (attended by C. Alabouvette – his plenary
presentations about the outlook on biocontrol of diseases and pests has been published*).
These consultations were further complemented by discussions at the occasion of various
meetings of participants of Research Activity 4.3 to identify the most prominent issues that could be
tackled by future research and development activities. The key elements are organised below in
three categories, based on their relevance to the concern of the research community, development or
industry.
Research issues
Five key issues have been identified in term of research needs:
Devise better strategies for the screening of biocontrol agents. The demand for new
biocontrol agents is already high. It is expected to increase sharply in the EU, with the ongoing
* Alabouvette, C, Cordier, C. 2009 Biological control of plant diseases: Future research goals to make it successful.
IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 45:3-5.
Conclusions and perspectives
69
reduction of available chemical pesticides and the need for new non-chemical plant protection tools
to comply with Directive 2009/128/EC. Current methods need to be improved both in terms of
logistics (high throughput to allow rapid mass screening of large numbers of candidates) and in
terms of the pertinence of criteria for efficacy, production and commercialization. This topic has
been tackled within Research Activity 4.3 of the European Network ENDURE for microbial
biocontrol agents against diseases (Deliverable DR4.9) and the results have been published (Köhl et
al., 2011*).
Improve knowledge on efficacy-related issues. The criteria traditionally used to asses the
efficacy of biological control methods may be misleading because contrarily to conventional
pesticides, biocontrol does not intend to eradicate pests and diseases but, rather, to install a
biological balance which will enable the plants to grow more healthily. However the consistency of
field efficacy remains one of the constraints for the large scale use of biological control of plant
diseases. Despite much recent progress, research efforts are still necessary for (1) a better
understanding of key parameters of field efficacy in relation to the type of biocontrol agent and their
modes of action and (2) implementing the most promising methods for efficacy improvement.
Promising avenues of research are to be sought both in terms of exploiting the biological properties
of the biocontrol agents and enhancing their effectiveness through formulation of the products.
Results obtained on these topics should provide key information both for the design of optimised
production and application strategies, but also for improving the screening process of future
biocontrol agents as mentioned in the point above.
Promote multidisciplinary approaches to integrate better biocontrol with IPM and other
production issues. Based on passed published experience, it is clear that levels of protection
provided by a single biocontrol agent alone will seldom be sufficient, especially when faced with
field conditions unfavourable to their effectiveness or with very high inoculum pressures of a pest
or plant pathogen. More emphasis will need to be placed on the compatibility of biocontrol agents
with the implementation of IPM, preferably in a systemic approach of integrated production.
Among the many possible interactions to be considered, compatibility and combined used of
biocontrol and plants genetically modified for improved resistance to pest or plant diseases should
not be overlooked.
Develop adapted delivery technologies. Much progress has been made in packaging
technology and delivery for macrobial biocontrol agents (e.g. beneficial arthropods). In contrast,
treatments with microbial biocontrol agents (against pests or diseases) still rely on sprayers
developed for the application of pesticides. Research is needed to provide growers with low
pressure spraying equipment to preserve the viability of the microbials. Technological
improvements are also needed for optimal coverage of the target plant surfaces to be protected by
the biocontrol agents.
Safeguard the durability of biocontrol. Certain pests and pathogens are known for their
capacity to develop resistance to chemical pesticides or to overcome varietal resistance. The
durability of biological control has often been assumed to be higher than that of chemical control,
but several examples of resistance of pests have already been reported. Much less is known about
plant pathogens, probably in part because biological control against diseases is still very rare.
Significant research efforts are needed to anticipate the potential hurtles in this domain and integrate
durability concerns both in the screening of new biocontrol agents and in the careful management of
their use once they become commercially available.
*Köhl, J., Postma, J., Nicot, P., Ruocco, M., Blum, B. 2011. Stepwise screening of microorganisms for commercial use
in biological control of plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Biological Control 57, 1-12.
Nicot et al.
70
Issues for development
Three key issues have been identified in terms of development. They are directly related to
improving the efficacy of crop protection but also to acceptability of biocontrol by farmers.
Training of advisers and farmers. Compared to chemical control, the implementation of
biological control presents an additional level of technical complexity when the "active substance"
is a living organism or microorganism, whose liveliness and development on the target crop
underpins the effectiveness of the protection. In many situations, achievement of successful
biocontrol of pests has been linked to an active role of advisers in accompanying the farmers, at
least during their initial phase of adoption and implementation. The success of large scale use of
biological control in the future will require stepping up the technical training of farmers and of
advisors. Such action will also positively influence the adoption issues mentioned below.
Development and dissemination of Decision Support Systems (DSS). Growers routinely
make decisions that take into account multiple constraints (both technical and economic) of their
activity. However, the complexity of biocontrol and its necessary integration in a systems approach
of crop protection and crop production make DSS more and more indispensible, including in their
function as easily consultable repositories of knowledge on available choices.
Establishment of demonstration schemes and development of farmers' networks. This
action is needed to stimulate the dissemination of information to and among farmers, but also to
facilitate exchange between the end users of biocontrol and the other actors of research,
development and commercialization of the products. Breaking up regional and national barriers and
including a European dimension to such networks is desirable for optimal efficacy of multisite
experimental trials.
Industrial issues
Quality control. Ongoing efforts by the manufacturers of biological control agents to
guarantee the quality of their products need to be stepped up. The definition of tests and their
routine implementation is crucial to ensure reliable effectiveness and maintain confidence of
farmers for biocontrol. Whenever possible, such tests should include not only an evaluation of
viability of the biocontrol agent but also an evaluation of physiological parameters related to its
efficacy, based on knowledge of its modes of action.
Improve distribution systems. Distibution systems need to be improved to safeguard the
quality of the products and provide technical advice for the users. In many cases, the distribution of
biocontrol products is common with that of chemical pesticides. One possible avenue of progress
would be to improve awareness on the specificities of handling biocontrol products, especially those
containing living organisms or micro-organisms. Another would be the development of sizeable
distributions networks focused on biocontrol, which could be brought together by groups of
(currently often small) producers of biocontrol products.


Conclusions and perspectives: Perspectives for future research-and-development projects on biological

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