The standout side event at Fruit Attraction in Spain, was the presentation of Koppert's global network of over 300 field trials spread across Europe, the UK, Africa, and the USA. Led by Mattijs Bodegom, Global MarCom Manager, the event highlighted the advantages and effectiveness of biological pest and disease control to a broad audience of agricultural professionals. Felipe Capobianco, Global Technical Market Development Lead, and Valter Ceppi, Business Development Manager, presented compelling results that underscored the proven benefits of these biological crop protection solutions for growers worldwide.
Proven effectiveness of pest control by Koppert
Over the years, field trials have proven the efficacy of Trichoderma harzianum, used in the biofungicide Trianum, as an effective solution for controlling soil-borne diseases in outdoor crops. In 2023, Koppert's beneficial nematodes successfully reduced potato damage caused by wireworms by 30% in highly infested soils, outperforming available conventional solutions.
In Southern Europe, trial fields are helping growers acquainted with Citripar (a parasitic wasps) and Cryptobug (a predatory insects), which have proven great efficacy in controlling mealybugs in grapes and citrus. ‘Some conventional insecticides, which growers in Southern Europe used to rely on, will soon no longer be permitted. Our solutions, Citripar and Cryptobug, are an excellent biological alternative" noted Felipe Capobianco.
The 2024 trials are focused on using beneficial insects such as predatory mites, predatory bugs, and ladybugs to manage various pests, including red spider mites, thrips, whiteflies, mealybugs, and scales. “Thanks to the field trials, we are able to effectively transfer our expertise to growers,” added Valter Ceppi.
Maximizing yields with Biological Crop Protection
Koppert's beneficial nematodes, have been shown to reduce fruit damage by 30% in crops such as apples and potatoes. In vineyards, the use of natural enemies to control mealybugs reduces infestations from 214 to just 11 mealybugs per grape cluster, compared to conventional methods.
The biological control methods also yield significant economic benefits. Wheat growers can earn an additional €225 per hectare, carrot growers €860, and processed tomato farmers €1,630 more per hectare compared to conventional pest control methods. In maize, yields are 300 times higher. Bumblebees, used for pollination, increase almond fruit set by 34% using Natupol.
Beyond return on investment, biological control offers other advantages: no residues, no safety interval, prevention of pest resistance, environmental friendliness, and ease of use, making it a perfect fit for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.
