Towards a chemical-free future in agriculture: The vision of grower Koen

This way of working allows him to gain experience in using biological crop protection . As a result, he acquires a lot of knowledge and is prepared to [...] organic farming was miles ahead in terms of sustainability and environmental friendliness, but that gap is getting smaller. In 15 years, I expect there [...] grow into it a bit," notes Koen. With the growing availability of knowledge and the number of biological crop protection products, he also sees opportunities

Cyclamen mite

pallidus ) is a harmful strawberry pest as well as a common pest found in cyclamen, gerbera and other ornamentals . Mites belonging to the family of tarsonemids [...] the flowers are damaged and leaf growth is inhibited. In hedera, a mite attack can cause baldness in parts of the stem. Gerbera flowers deform and discolour [...] fruits become brown near the base. Life cycle and appearance of Cyclamen mite The life cycle of the cyclamen mite ( Phytonemus pallidus ) has the following

Thrips

desiccated and the adjacent cells turn brown. The vigour of the plant is also reduced by loss of chlorophyll. With a serious infestation the leaves themselves [...] misshapen. Thrips are also responsible for the transmission of viruses, the best known of which is tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), mainly transmitted by [...] Several species of thrips are a major problem in greenhouse horticulture. The Western flower thrips ( Frankliniella occidentalis ) is the most damaging

Predatory mites

pests, so knowing the target pest is crucial. Scouting is essential to know where the pest is, how severe the infestation is and to identify the pest. Select [...] solutions into their crops, ensuring optimal performance, is an integral part of our DNA. Advantages of predatory mites Precision targeting: Predatory mites [...] pests for a long period of time. Reduced pesticide dependence: The integration of predatory mites can lead to a reduction in the use of chemical pesticides

Beetles

group of insects that are easily recognizable on account of their hard wing covers (elytra). With more than 350,000 known species, Coleoptera is the largest [...] largest of all insect orders and displays an enormous variety of form, size and habit. A number of species are a serious pest in crops or stored products [...] beetles in your crop Life cycle of beetles Beetle damage Both larvae and adults of beetles can cause damage to crops. The larvae of some species feed on growing

Mealybugs and scales

honeydew. In fact, the honeydew with its sooty mould is usually the first sign of the presence of this type of pest. Among ornamental crops, ferns are particularly [...] your crop Life cycle of mealybugs & scales Mealybug & scale damage Although most species of mealybugs feed on the aerial parts of the plant, some species [...] off; plant sap is low in proteins and rich in sugars. In order to gain an adequate intake of protein, mealybugs must ingest large quantities of sap, getting

Pea

This popular vegetable is a round seed in the seed pod of the fruit, Pisum sativum . Pods of this plant develop from the ovary of a pea flower and carry [...] carry numerous peas. The vegetable is a bright green colour, sometimes yellow or purple and widely grown as a cool season vegetable crop. Immature peas are

Biological Pest Control

biocontrol, is a method of managing pests using natural predators, parasitoids, or pathogens. This approach partners with nature to maintain the balance of ecosystems [...] control methods is likely to grow, making it a forward-looking choice for agriculture and pest management. Learn more about Pests Advantages of biological pest [...] domestic animals, making them a safer option. Types of biological pest control There are three primary types of biological pest control methods: conservation

Western flower thrips

leaves and the black dots of their excreta indicate their presence in the crop. The vigour of the plant is reduced by loss of chlorophyll. When infestations [...] be found on a wide variety of plants, including many vegetable and ornamental crops in greenhouses, and on various weeds. It is an especially significant [...] insect. The eggs of the western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis) are laid in leaves, flower petals and in the soft parts of stalks. They are

Flies

directly and indirectly. The type of damage depends on the species of the flies. Direct damage is the immediate result of larvae feeding on root hairs and [...] nuisance, are particularly small flies of the families Sciaridae (sciarid flies) and Ephydridae (shore flies). The larvae of these insects generally live on rotting [...] that is rich in organic matter. Although they cause little direct damage to plants, they are often a problem due to their large number. Larvae of flies