Premium
Identifying obstacles and ranking common biological control research priorities for Europe to manage most economically important pests in arable, vegetable and perennial crops
Author(s) -
Lamichhane Jay Ram,
BischoffSchaefer Monika,
Bluemel Sylvia,
DachbrodtSaaydeh Silke,
Dreux Laure,
Jansen JeanPierre,
Kiss Jozsef,
Köhl Jürgen,
Kudsk Per,
Malausa Thibaut,
Messéan Antoine,
Nicot Philippe C,
Ricci Pierre,
Thibierge Jérôme,
Villeneuve François
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
pest management science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.296
H-Index - 125
eISSN - 1526-4998
pISSN - 1526-498X
DOI - 10.1002/ps.4423
Subject(s) - arable land , agriculture , business , crop protection , perennial plant , biological pest control , integrated pest management , microbiology and biotechnology , agroforestry , ranking (information retrieval) , biology , agronomy , ecology , computer science , machine learning
EU agriculture is currently in transition from conventional crop protection to integrated pest management ( IPM ). Because biocontrol is a key component of IPM , many European countries recently have intensified their national efforts on biocontrol research and innovation (R&I), although such initiatives are often fragmented. The operational outputs of national efforts would benefit from closer collaboration among stakeholders via transnationally coordinated approaches, as most economically important pests are similar across Europe. This paper proposes a common European framework on biocontrol R&I. It identifies generic R&I bottlenecks and needs as well as priorities for three crop types (arable, vegetable and perennial crops). The existing gap between the market offers of biocontrol solutions and the demand of growers, the lengthy and expensive registration process for biocontrol solutions and their varying effectiveness due to variable climatic conditions and site‐specific factors across Europe are key obstacles hindering the development and adoption of biocontrol solutions in Europe. Considering arable, vegetable and perennial crops, a dozen common target pests are identified for each type of crop and ranked by order of importance at European level. Such a ranked list indicates numerous topics on which future joint transnational efforts would be justified. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry