Predators enable biological pest control
Two companies from Israel and the Netherlands have developed innovative methods for obtaining insect predator supplies, allowing farmers to use biological pest control instead of chemicals. Using natural predators to rid crops of insect pests has many advantages over chemicals, but producing them on a commercial scale has, until now, been difficult and expensive. One problem is guaranteeing a supply of insect predators, such as Orius and Macrolophus, because of the problems inherent in ensuring food resources and a suitable environment for them to lay their eggs. New materials and techniques developed under the EUREKA project ALTREARMETHODS make it easier and less expensive to produce insect predators. 'This means more effective, more economic control of many insect pests of major agricultural products,' says project coordinator Shimon Steinberg of the biological control company Bio-Bee Sde Eliyahu in Israel. The second partner, Dutch company Koppert Biological Systems, was responsible for developing the machinery, methodology and materials for encapsulating artificial diets. The company also used its encapsulation technology to prepare an artificial liquid diet in the form of coated droplets. The partners tested several alternative diets, and came up with encapsulated food that is acceptable to two major predatory insects: Orius jaevigatus, which mainly attacks thrips, and Macrolophus caliginosus, which eats whitefly, thrips, leaf miners and mites. The gel substrates developed by the partners have been accepted by the predators as a suitable base for egg-laying. They avoid desiccation and decay problems, and are also water-soluble, making it easy to extract loose insect eggs and determine their number accurately. This makes the production process more reliable and predictable than if natural substrates were used. Mr Steinberg sees immediate market potential for this biological pest control in the Mediterranean region. He also expects ALTREARMETHODS to have a major impact on the biological control business, leading to the opening of new markets in Europe and beyond. The potential annual sales of these two predators alone is estimated at €6 million for Orius and €10 million for Macrolophus - an increase from current sales of €2 million and €3 million respectively.
Countries
Israel, Netherlands