Russell Advert
IGEBA
Catchmaster

International Pest Control – November/December 2024 – Vol 66, Nr.6

| December 9, 2024

Cover image: The BioGenius strategy is to become a provider of “one-stop-shop” laboratory services for all technical studies of biocidal and plant protection products.
Picture by BioGenius

Controlling a plant virus rarely jeopardises up to 500 jobs but in South Australia the state government has quarantined greenhouse crops infected with tomato brown rugose virus (ToBRV) and ordered crop destruction and disinfection. Meanwhile, in the USA the focus is on spreading the lessons learnt from a decade of funding the Tomato Organic Management and Improvement (TOMI) project. And in Wales a BioHUB has been opened at the University of Swansea with the aim of innovation in the use of natural products across agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and manufacturing.

We don’t often carry Opinion pieces but in this issue, four leading scientists and regulatory specialists in the biopesticides field make the case for change in the regulatory process for these products. “Biopesticides will require a balanced, informed and intelligent risk review by the authorities.” We need to get this right in order to achieve a smooth transition away from conventional, increasingly ineffective, chemical pesticides.

Bug of the Issue is the pharoah ant, a tropical species which has infested homes worldwide.

We carry a report from the IPM 2024 conference held in September at the University of Swansea – a successful and interesting event.

Company news includes the usual mix of acquisitions, product launches, awards and appointments from Orkin, Koppert, PestCo Holdings, Pest Solutions, Andermatt, BioFirst and Certis Belchim.

Our Company Profile features German company BioGenius who are focused on becoming a key provider of “one-stop-shop” laboratory services for all technical studies of biocidal and plant protection products.

Our Special Feature section is about Technology in Pest Control, and we kick off with a plea from African Sub-Saharan smallholders for better access to technology taken for granted elsewhere.

One way to avoid pests is to create an entirely artificial growing environment. Vertical farming provides just that, but the industry has not been an unqualified success and energy consumption – alongside energy price – is critical. WUR reports on a system of smarter control of artificial lighting which improves plant health and reduces costs.

Robot use on farms is coming to the fore. An interesting study looked at two strategies for weed control: one relied on using herbicides until resistance made them ineffective (myopic management) then switched to robots, the other looked at extending the life of herbicides by using robots early on – interestingly the mixed-use mode is the most cost effective. Are you a myopic pest manager or are you forward looking? This section also includes articles on the digitisation of pest control from Pelsis, Syngenta and Owl Sentry.

In Agriculture we look at a potentially new group of pesticides based on organically derived Furfurylamine. A newly discovered plant protein GAME15 involved in regulation of susceptibility to insects such as leafhoppers and Colorado potato beetles may offer new ways of control. Other topics include mitigating heat stress in tomatoes, rapid virus detection, and a new soft fruit breeding programme.

We conclude with a magnum opus on the current state of the Ips typographus invasion of the UK and its potential to devastate an important commercial tree crop. Written by Dr Terry Mabbett it challenges the view that the invasion was just down to blow-ins from the continent and asks if we are not significantly underestimating the risk from infested Norway spruce earmarked for biomass burning and firewood.

And we close with the hope of a breakthrough in the fight against both Fusarium Tropical Race 4 (TR4) and Black Sigatoka, two of the most destructive diseases for bananas with the development of a resistant plant. Maybe it’s time for the Cavendish to move on…

Chris Endacott, Editor International Pest Control magazine
editor@international-pest-control.com

Contents International Pest Control November/December 2024
Volume 66, Number 6.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

  • ToBRFV: “We have one chance to contain this virus”
  • TOMI project receives $3.5M grant
  • New Welsh £4.5m biotechnology hub

OPINION

  • Regulatory reform for the UK 

BUG OF THE ISSUE

  • Pharoah ant

ASSOCIATION & SOCIETY NEWS

  • New IPM 2024: Emerging Opportunities symposium
  • New President of the European Association for Potato Research
  • ICUP 2025 early bird registration open
  • PestWorld 2024 hits a new high in Denver

COMPANY NEWS

  • Beaver Pest Control acquired by Orkin
  • Koppert launches renewed Side Effects app
  • Green Mango Pest Control acquired by PestCo Holdings
  • Commitment to net zero shines through at awards
  • Andermatt Group AG acquires 80% of Agricheck
  • Top honours at the 2024 Trends Impact Awards
  • Koppert: new Global Leadership Team
  • Gold in the Bernard Blum Award 2024
  • Inaugural Sustainability Report
  • Biology for a better tomorrow

COMPANY PROFILE

  • 20 years of BioGenius serving its customers

SPECIAL FEATURE: Technology in Pest Control

  • African smallholders need improved access to technology
  • Dynamic control for more efficient vertical farming
  • Automating trap checks can transform your business
  • Pelsis Group: setting the bar for pest control?
  • AI can help growers increase yields by up to five percent
  • A myopic strategy will cost more in the long run
  • AI for the pest control business

AGRICULTURE

  • Bio-based insecticidal ingredients
  • Key protein discovered in solanaceous plants
  • Novel genetic basis of pest resistance

HORTICULTURE & AMENITY

  • Mitigating heat stress in tomatoes with C4L biostimulant
  • Detecting viruses at lightning speed
  • New soft fruit pre-breeding research

FORESTRY & PLANTATION

  • Ips typographus: all is finally revealed… or is it?
  • Breakthrough in fight against devastating banana diseases
  • Sustainable agriculture in olives

CLIMATE CHANGE

  • Latin American trial heralds methane free rice

CALENDAR

  • Upcoming pest control events

Published in International Pest Control – November/December 2024 issue.

Tags: , , ,

Category: Issue Editorial & Contents

babolna 728x90
Airofog 2023 new web banner