Growers nowadays are facing many challenges, constantly adapting to changing conditions. One of these many challenges is managing pest and disease pressure while maintaining productivity and keeping in mind the strict regulations regarding chemical pesticide usage and maximum residue levels. Fortunately, biological crop protection offers a sustainable solution that not only maximizes flexibility for growers, but also helps to meet these increasing challenges.
Maximize yields and quality
Biological crop protection, unlike chemical alternatives, leaves minimal to no residues, eliminating obliged pre-harvest intervals. Chemical pesticide treatments often necessitate waiting periods ranging from a few days, to several weeks or even months.
By not having this limitation when using biological crop protection, growers can manage pests and diseases close to harvest, leading to increased yields, improved crop quality, and ultimately, higher prices and turnover.
Efficient labour and logistics
Labour availability is an increasing problem for many growers around the globe. Availability can fluctuate due to shortages, competing demands and regulations. By applying biocontrol solutions growers are more flexible in adapting their harvesting schedules based on labour availability, ensuring efficient and timely harvesting operations.
Harvesting not only involves labour but also involves a range of logistical factors such as transportation, storage, and processing. Flexibility allows growers to coordinate these activities more effectively, optimizing efficiency and reducing bottlenecks in the supply chain.
Enhancing profitability
Market demand for fruit and vegetables can fluctuate throughout the harvesting season. Being flexible in harvest allows growers to respond to shifts in demand, ensuring that crops are harvested and available when market conditions are most favourable, thereby maximizing profitability.
Harvesting flexibilityÂ
Weather conditions can significantly impact the moment of harvest. Unforeseen events such as rain, storms, or unexpected temperature fluctuations may delay harvesting schedules. Or even mean that growers have to start the harvest earlier than planned. By not having to take into account a pre-harvest interval, growers are able to adjust their plans in response to these changing weather conditions, minimizing the risk of crop damage or loss.
Biological crop protection offers many advantages. No chemical residues and no pre-harvest intervals will offer flexibility for growers and will help them to be in control of their moment of harvest, maximizing yield and quality.