WP1 - Optimisation and adaptation of current pest management methods

Led by Agroinnova and Zhejiang University

WP1 builds on the knowledge developed in the several initiatives on pest and weed management funded in recent years by various international programmes with the goal to improve it, adapt it to both the European and Chinese context, and propose tailored solutions to be implemented by the end-users in WP4.

A recurring problem encountered in the field with biological control against plant pathogens is the inconsistency of its efficacy. Biocontrol agents that are effective under controlled conditions are often less effective or completely ineffective when introduced under commercial conditions. This variability of efficacy is generally attributed to climatic variations encountered in field conditions, a lack of ecological competence of the biocontrol agents, and/or an unstable quality of the products. Concerning the sustainable use of chemicals within IPM, and in order to improve safety and sustainability of pesticide application, one of the solutions is represented by the adjustment of the amount of pesticide to be applied, in order to maintain the efficacy against pest while keeping pesticide side effects as low as possible.

WP1 will try to overcome these limits through:

  • optimisation of biological control strategies, 
  • management of pest resistance,                                                                 encarsiabug
  • exploitation of cultural practices and ecology-based approaches,
  • modelling approaches applied to IPM for the target crops.