Biological control in glasshouses in the Netherlands. Hans Muilerman PAN-Europe NIC-wg Paris, 8-12-09.

Biological control in glasshouses in the

Netherlands.

Hans MuilermanPAN-Europe NIC-wg Paris, 8-12-09.

50.000 hectares of vegetables and flowers

No ‘green fingers’ anymore.

Production completely industrialized

High input type of production, and..

… also industrial type of recirculation, and….

… full scale energy production combining heat

and electricity

Big problems finding people ready to do the picking

Market segmentation forced by ‘Bild Zeitung’.

Resistance problems led to biological control in the 70-

es

Biological Control in glasshouses Biological Control in glasshouses increasing increasing

(Van Lenteren, 2006)(Van Lenteren, 2006)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005

0

10000

20000

30000

40000

50000

60000

Number of naturalenemiescommerciallyavailable forglasshouse crops

Hectares ofglasshouse cropsunder IPM (World)

Biological control Type 3 and 4 measures of IP.

IP hierarchy & Type of measures

1. Prevention

2. Technical measures for cultivation

3. Systems for early warning and deciding

4. Non-synthetic chemical crop protection

5. Chemical crop protection and application techniques

6. Emission reduction

Potential for BC almost unlimited

Predators (vertebrates) Microbials Pheromones Sterile flies Natural substances Biological soil treatment ….., even sound

Use of pesticides still major problem,

especially in flower crops

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Use ofpesticidesin kg/ha,CBS, 2000.

Zero-tolerance policy also doesn’t help

Challenges

Getting BC (and IPM) rewarded in the market

Change unfair EU approval system and turn it around to giving BC an advantage

Remove and substitute chemicals harming BC-systems

Keep chemical industry from buying up BC-companies

More challenges: arable crops!

Campaigning helps