1. Innovation for Sustainable Intensification Karel Bolckmans Director Global Research & Development Copenhagen, March 2 nd 2012

2. Introduction

3. KOPPERT : Biocontrol-based IPM and pollination (  1967) IBMA : International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (  1995) IOBC : International Organization for Biological and Integrated Control of Noxious Animals and Plants (  1955)

4. The Green Revolution Focus on increasing productivity 1.Plant Breeding (Norman E. Borlaug) 2.Irrigation 3.Chemical Fertilizers (Haber-Bosch) 4.Chemical Pesticides

5. The Green Revolution Focus on increasing productivity only 1.Plant Breeding 2.Irrigation 3.Chemical Fertilizers 4.Chemical Pesticides  (1) serious environmental consequences (biodiversity, eutrofication, GHG emission, etc.), (2) exhaustion of natural resources (soil depletion, exhaustion of aquifers, phosphate, etc.) (3) food safety issues.

6. From Reductionism towards a Total Systems Approach The Green Revolution had an Unidirectional Approach from input to output, without considering too much (1) undesired side-effects on the environment (local and global, short-term and long-term), (2) feedback effects from the environment on productivity. Need for sustainable approaches that meet short-term requirements while maintaining the ability to meet long- term needs. A “Holistic” Total Systems Approach is needed (dialectics, cybernetics, general systems theory, complexity theory, resilience thinking).

7. The Grand Challenges for Global Food Production Biodiversity Food Safety Food SecurityClimate Change Worker Safety Productivity Market Access Pricing Water Resources Soil Resources Profitability Food Prices Costs Pest, Diseases, Weeds Sustainability : People, Profit and Planet

9. 3 levels of transition (1) Increase of Efficiency (2) Substitution (3) System Redesign Hill, Stuart B. and Rod MacRae (1995), Conceptual frameworks for the transition from conventional to sustainable agriculture, Journal of Sustainable Agriculture, 7, 81-87.

10. Towards Green Revolution 2.0 Focus on productivity + sustainability !!! 1.Breeding for Productivity ánd Resistance 2.Resilient Cropping Systems 3.Integrated Soil & Nutrient Management (INM) 4.Integrated Water Management (IWM) 5.Integrated Pest & Disease Management (IPM)

11. 1. Plant Breeding better nutrient and water uptake resistence against biotic stresses (diseases, pests, nematodes) (horizontal vs. vertical resistance) resistance against abiotic stresses (drought, salinity, ozon, …) enhance plant defense system (SAR, ISR, endophytes) enhance interaction with useful micro-organisms (PGPR’s, mycorrhizae, disease antagonists, endophytes) and invertebrate biocontrol agents

12. 2. Resilient Cropping Systems diversity ! diversity in space : –at the field level : multiline cropping, mixed cropping, polyculture, agroforestry, … –at the landscape level : functional agro- biodiverstiy, ecological focus areas, … diversity in time : crop rotation !!!

13. 3. Integrated Soil and Nutrient Management (INM) 45% of European soils face problems of soil quality due to loss of organic matter, soil biodiversity, salination, erosion. high levels of chemical fertilisers lead to loss of organic material, eutrofication, GHG-emission, etc. Nutrient Use Efficiency (NUE) : precision application (in space and time), biostimulants and biofertilisers, … Organic nutrient sources : organic material, manure, crop rotation with legumes, fallow periods, N-fixing bacteria, … Prevent soil erosion : cover crops, conservation tillage, buffer strips Possibilities for CO 2 sequestration !

14. Challenging dogma’s “If the only tool you know is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail” Abraham Maslow

15. ?

16. What can microbes do for us ? Nutrient Uptake enhancement and Plant Growth Promotion - increase root surface, production of bio-active compounds for plant uptake : Plant Growth Promoting Micro-organisms (PGPR’s), mycorrhiza, biostimulants Nutrient bio-availability enhancement - i ncrease availability of nutrients : fertiliser solubilization (e.g. phosphate), mobilization (e.g. potash), decomposition of organic material Nitrogen fixing - Nitrogen fixing bacteria (Rhizobium spp. and free-living bacteria), Inoculants Improve soil aggregation - Mechanisms : production of polysaccharides to improve soil aggregation

17. What can microbes do for us ? Tolerance to salinity osmotic protectants : enable crop production in salinated soils Tolerance to drought stress enable crops to better tolerate periods of drought. Soil Food Web !

18. “… the goal of reducing fertilizer usage will be to this century what the goal of reducing pesticides was to the last century.” Adesemoye & Kloepper (2009)

19. (Pesticide) Policy Paradox ! Plant protection products are defined in the EU by the Regulation (EC) n° 1107/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and repealing Council Directives 79/117/EEC and 91/414/EEC, as follows : Article 2, Scope : 1. This Regulation shall apply to products, in the form in which they are supplied to the user, consisting of or containing active substances, safeners or synergists, and intended for one of the following uses: (a) protecting plants or plant products against all harmful organisms or preventing the action of such organisms, unless the main purpose of these products is considered to be for reasons of hygiene rather than for the protection of plants or plant products; (b) influencing the life processes of plants, such as substances influencing their growth, other than as a nutrient; (c) preserving plant products, in so far as such substances or products are not subject to special Community provisions on preservatives; (d) destroying undesired plants or parts of plants, except algae unless the products are applied on soil or water to protect plants; (e) checking or preventing undesired growth of plants, except algae unless the products are applied on soil or water to protect plants. These products are referred to as ‘plant protection products’.

20. 4. Integrated Water Management Water Use Efficiency (WUE) (quantity, quality) drip irrigation water holding capacity of the soil (organic matter !!!) breeding for drought resistance and better water uptake microbes … Howell T.A., 2001, Enhancing Water Use Efficiency in Irrigated Agriculture. Agronomy Journal, vol.93, nr.2

21. 5. Integrated Pest & Disease Management (IPM) “A system that keeps harmfull organisms below the economic damage level based on ecologically, economically and toxicologically acceptable methods, taking into account the specific ecology of crops as well as harmfull organisms.” (IOBC, 1973) strategy : total systems approach uses integrated combination of different tactics to : –prevent (hygiëne, exclusion, …) and –manage (mechanical, biological, cultural, agronomic, …) populations of harmful organisms. chemical control = last resort IPM ≠ Intelligent Pesticide Marketing ! biocontrol is part of IPM, alongside other non-chemical methods (IPM is more than only “products” !)

22. “We are now on the threshold of a third phase in the development of IPM systems that recognizes pests not as enemies, but as indicators of problems in the design and management of systems” Hill (1985)

23. Biological Control “The action of parasites, predators and pathogens in maintaining another organism’s acitivity at a lower average than would occur in their absence” (Debach, 1964) uses biological agents (natural enemies) (parasites, predators, pathogens) to manage pest populations below an acceptable level (economic damage threshhold)

24. Biological Control 1.Classical Biological Control Introduction of ecologically adapted natural enemies from the area of origin of the target pest. 2. Conservation Biological Control Conservation of natural enemies in the ecosystem using cultural practices or habitat management to enhance their activity. 3. Augmentative Biological Control Releasing mass-reared natural enemies.

26. Case Study : Almeria, Spanje

27. The vicious spiral Agronomic problems –Pesticide Resistance –Resurgence : pesticide induced pest outbreaks ! Hormoligosis Elimination of natural enemies Leads to –Increasing application frequency –Increasing dose rates –Use of illegal pesticides Leads to –More pest problems –Increasing residue levels Leads to –Increasing environmental impact –Decreasing Food Safety 1.Agronomic problem 2.Environmental problem 3.Food Safety problem

28. Challenging dogma’s “If the only tool you know is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail” Abraham Maslow

29. Wake-up call Greenpeace Germany Report 1.MRL exceedances 2.Illegal pesticides

30. Retailers taking the lead with extra-legal requirements 1.Safety margin : x% below MRL 2.Adding up residu’s from the same group 3.Black listed pesticides 4.Maximum number of active ingredients  IPM became the only way out Necessity is the mother of invention !

31. IPM Toolbox TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.INTRODUCTION2 1.1 GOAL2 1.2 FRAMEWORK2 1.3 THE THREE PILLARS OF IPM2 2.DEVELOPMENT OF BASIC KNOWLEDGE3 2.1 PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS3 2.2 PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS3 2.3 TRAINING4 3.TOOLS FOR IPM BEFORE PLANTING4 3.1 RISK ASSESSMENT4 3.2 PREVENTION5 4.TOOLS FOR IPM DURING CROPPING6 4.1 PREVENTION6 4.2 MONITORING AND DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS7 4.3 INTERVENTION8 5.TOOLS FOR IPM POST-HARVEST11 5.1 POST-HARVEST TREATMENTS11 5.2 STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION11 REFERENCES12

32. 3.1. RISK ASSESSMENT 3.1.1. History of the plot 3.1.2. Surrounding crops and vegetation 3.1.3. Soil and water samples 3.1.4. Analysis and Evaluation of the Risk Assessment 3.2. PREVENTION 3.2.1. Soil : creating and maintaining fertile and suppressive soils by : crop rotation, fallow, green manure, soil biodiversity, managing erosion, non- chemical soil-desinfection, clean-tillage or sanitation of crop residues, … 3.2.2. Water : clean water, optimal irrigation and fertigation 3.2.3. Plants resistant varieties adapted to local growing conditions, resistant rootstock, pest- and disease-free starting material, plant density 3.2.4. Climate : warning systems based on climate models 3.2.5. Timing of planting & growing 3.2.6. Location, plot selection TOOLS FOR IPM BEFORE PLANTING

33. 4.1. PREVENTION 4.1.1. Cleanliness of the farm (Hygiene and Sanitation) Prevent transmission of pests, diseases and weeds by vectors, people, equipment, materials and by managing crop residues Prevent pesticide drift from neighbouring plots. 4.1.2.Cultural and Technical Measures Optimal crop care (fertilization, irrigation,etc.) Canopy management and micro-climate Cropping system : cover crops, mixed crops, strip cropping, strip harvesting, permaculture, fallow field margins,... Mulching Induced resistance against pests and diseases Other technical measures : exclusion techniques, etc. 4.1.3. Conservation Biological Control Measures to increase populations of natural enemies and pollinators in and around the crop Provide nesting places for predatory birds to control rodents. Prevent population reduction of natural enemies by using pesticides. TOOLS FOR IPM DURING CROPPING

34. 4.2. MONITORING AND DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS 4.2.1. Organisation 4.2.2. Observation 4.2.3. Record keeping 4.2.4. Warning Systems and Decision Tools 4.2.5. Evaluation / Decision making TOOLS FOR IPM DURING CROPPING

35. 4.3. INTERVENTION 4.3.1. Mechanical / Physical Control (e.g. roughing, vacuuming, UV-C, TPC,...) 4.3.2. Semiochemicals : mass-trapping, mating disruption 4.3.3. Augmentative Biological Control 4.3.4. Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) 4.3.5. Use of natural and environmentally friendly products (“Biopesticides”) 4.3.6. Smart use of Chemical Plant Protection Products 1)Monitoring, Warning Systems, Decision making, Action Thresholds 2)Product Selection 3)Adjuvants 4)Anti-resistance management 5)Application : Precision Agriculture 6)Nominate a person who is responsible for application of crop protection products. TOOLS FOR IPM DURING CROPPING

36. 5.1. POST-HARVEST TREATMENTS 5.1.1 Selection of techniques and products (chemical, biological, technical) 5.1.2. Application technique 5.1.3. Record of applications 5.2. STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION 5.2.1 Monitoring 5.2.2 Prevention 5.2.3 Intervention TOOLS FOR IPM POST-HARVEST

37. 2.1. PESTS, DISEASES AND WEEDS 2.1.1. List of relevant pests, diseases and weeds in the target crop for the specific area – region or country. 2.1.2. Basic information (fact sheets) about the biology of the relevant pests, diseases and weeds and about their natural enemies. 2.2. PLANT PROTECTION PRODUCTS 2.2.1. List of pesticides which can be legally applied against the relevant pests, diseases and weeds in the target crop. 2.2.2. Basic information (fact sheets) plant protection products 2.3. TRAINING 2.4. EXTENSION DEVELOPMENT OF BASIC KNOWLEDGE

38. What happened with the sweet peppers from Almeria ?

39. Biocontrol-based IPM Amblyseius swirskii

43. Green Revolution 2.0 Requires : 1.Research & Innovation 2.Extension 3.Regulatory Framework 4.Incentives for the farmers Without these 4 ingredients it is impossible to make a succesful transition to a really sustainable agriculture across the European Union !!! EIP

44. Thank you ! kbolckmans@koppert.nl