PLAN AND FORECAST to Prevent Biocontrol Supply Shortages

摘要

GROWERS WHO WORK with biological control agents (BCAs) know that starting early in the production process and planning ahead are important ingredients for a successful program. In April 2010, the eruption of Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano disrupted air traffic in Europe and transatlantic flights to North America for weeks. Growers who were implementing biocontrol in North America in 2010 might remember this event because of the supply interruption of BCAs. Many of the BCAs used in their programscame from Europe, and in some cases, it resulted in a compromised program, or worse — failure of their biocontrol program.