News Arable
Research into sustainable crop protection
Growers of leafy crops have joined forces and are conducting a 4-year study into increasing plant resistance and the possibilities for more sustainable crop protection products. According to GroentenFruit Huis, one of the initiators, sustainability is important for the entire chain and the survival of small crops.
The use of chemical crop protection products is under pressure because consumers are asking for more sustainable food production. The Ministry of Agriculture recognizes that the available resources are becoming less and less sufficient for adequate control of diseases, pests and weeds.
The research is a public-private partnership (PPP) in which the leafy crop collective Bladycol, the Netherlands celeriac growers' association, GroentenFruit Huis, Vollegrondsgroente.net and the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality are participating.
Research into alternatives
In the implementation program for a future vision crop protection 2030 The limited resources package is seen as a risk by the Ministry of LNV, especially for small crops. From a business perspective, manufacturers place less emphasis on developing new resources. Development and admission are expensive and sales are limited. Leafy crops can suffer from fungi and insects and in many cases intervention with chemical crop protection products is necessary to prevent damage.
The research is also being done to respond to the wishes from society for alternative and sustainable methods of crop protection. The research focuses on 5 elements: resilient varieties, use of low-risk crop protection products, use of warning models and sensors, risk inventory of new substances and the risk of residues and microbiological contamination.
"Due to the challenges posed by the reduction and disappearance of crop protection products, we are seeing more and more experiments with so-called 'green agents' and biostimulants or plant enhancers," says Daan van Empel, Sustainability and Food Safety program manager at GroentenFruit Huis. "It is important that the food safety of the end product receives the attention it deserves with such changes in cultivation strategies, so that we as the fruit and vegetable sector can guarantee food safety unabated." He believes it is important that consumers can continue to trust that food and its production are and will remain safe. Moreover, this is demanded by chain parties such as supermarkets.
Jurphaas Lugtenburg
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