Soft biopesticide is hard on pests

摘要

With fewer traditional chemical products available to eliminate pests, growers have to look for effective alternatives which are harsh on pests but still comply with the protocols laid down by governments and society. As a consequence of the EU registration process for pesticides and herbicides, growers have lost a number of chemicals from their armoury. The increased frequency of use of remaining products with the potential for the build up of resistance is also of major concern in a variety of cropsituations. With this in mind growers are having to look for effective alternatives. Natural predators as part of IPM programmes are widely used but still additional weapons which will not harm the environment, workers, consumers or the image of the industry are in demand. A physically acting biopesticide that has been shown to be highly effective against a number of common glasshouse pests was relaunched in the UK with an improved formulation. Eradicoat is currently exempt from registration in the UKdue to its physical mode of action, and over the last six years has become a key component of IPM programmes. It is primarily used by growers of high value salad crops and soft fruit to treat hot spots of spider mite and whitefly.