Biocontrol in Integrated Pest Management in Fruit and Vegetable Field Production
2025
Maria Pobożniak | Marta Olczyk
The Farm-to-Fork strategy, an essential component of the European Green Deal, aims to establish a sustainable and healthy food system. A crucial aspect of this strategy is reducing synthetic pesticide use by 50% by 2030. In this context, biocontrol is seen as a vital tool for achieving this goal. However, the upscaling of biocontrol faces several challenges, including technical and socio-economic issues and concerns regarding the legal status of biocontrol products. This article focuses on the Positive List, which includes indigenous and introduced species that have been established for use in EPPO countries and approved biological agents in some OECD countries. This article discusses microbial control agents and active substances derived from microbial metabolites, macro-agents, semi-chemicals, and plant-based compounds. It covers their origins, active substances, mechanisms of action against target pests, application methods, market availability, benefits, and potential environmental side effects. Additionally, it discusses the role of beneficial insects and mites as natural enemies in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) within the context of conservation methods. This article addresses the future of biological control, which largely relies on advancements in science to tackle two critical challenges: enhancing the reliability and effectiveness of biopreparations in field conditions and developing suitable formulations of biopesticides tailored to large-scale cultivation technologies for key crops.
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