Ralf-Udo Ehlerse-nema GmbH

INNOVATION – THE WAY FORWARD: BIOLOGICAL PLANT PROTECTION

Sealing the deal on a greener CAP?Croke Park Confernce Centre, Dublin, Ireland

April 10, 2013

Microbials

Viruses, Bacteria & Fungal Pathogens

Macrobials

Predatory mites & insects,

nematodes

Semiochemicals

Pheromones, Plant volatiles

Natural Products

Plant extracts, Seaweed products & Basic substances

Current tools available from the biocontrol industry

Tools have been available for many decades

e~nema SME, producing nematodes, fungi + bacteria for IPM

Pests developed resistance against synthetic pesticides Farmers used pesticides more frequencly and in higher dosisSerious problems with pesticide residues in food

Success Story: Biological Control in European Greenhouse Industry

Problems with residues

Accepted Residues (MRL)Supermarkets go beyond governmental levels

Source: (Waldner W. Frutta e Vite, 2009)

Maximal pesticide Residue Level requested by Supermarket chains in Italy

Maximal pesticide Residue Level requested by Supermarket chains in Germany

100% Legal MRL 100% Legal MRL

50%

40%

30% 33%

70%

80%

Fruitlogistica 2013

Governmental support of 1000 €/ha to pay for technical support

2004: 100 ha use of biocontrol2010: All 40.000 ha use BCAs

Concerted Action of government, farmer organisations and biocontrol industry in Spain

Today greenhouse vegetables are produced by IPM including biological control agents

In outdoor agriculture, however, biocontrol is not yet part of IPM

Exaggerating regulation of biological control agents (micro-organisms, pheromones, botanicals)

Why?

Risk Management + Registration

Biocontrol agents regulated according to EU Reg. 1107/2009, following rules developed for synthetic chemical compounds

EU Policy Support Action REBECA gave recommendations for improvement, but proposals have not been implemented

Accelerate registration process (9 years is too long)

Formation of expert teams to handle BCAs only

Priorities for BCAs

What is necessary (incomplete list)

Exaggerating regulation following rules developed for synthetic chemical compounds

Although EU pesticide legislation and political outreach is supporting non-chemical measures, the support for introduction of biocontrol in MS is half-hearted

Why?

Integrated Pest Management in European PP legislation

The Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market:

Point 35: To ensure a high level of protection of human and animal health and the environment, plant protection products should be used properly, in accordance with their authorisation, having regard to the principles of integrated pest management and giving priority to nonchemical and natural alternatives wherever possible.

MS give Art. 53 “emergency authorisations” although biocontrol agents are available.

Member States do NOT used PPP properly

MS give priority to chemical products

MS violate existing EU legislation

Exaggerating regulation following rules developed for synthetic chemical compounds

Although EU pesticide legislation and political outreach is supporting non-chemical measures, the support for introduction of biocontrol in MS is half-hearted

Implementation of pesticide reduction programmes exclude biological control

Why?

Sustainable Use Directive 2009/128 EC

Article 14: “the MS shall take all necessary measures to promote low pesticide-input pest management, giving wherever possible priority to non-chemical methods, so that professional users of pesticides switch to practices and products with the lowest risk to human health and the environment

As a consequence, MS must developed NAPs to reduce pesticide use in the EU

NAPs hardly consider biological control as a possible means to reduce pesticides

EU funded projects like ENDURE and PURE „re-invent“ IPM, but do little for implementation of biological control

Instead of promotion of biocontrol, MS seem to protect markets for chemical PPPs

Biological control is supporting greening of CAP

EU policy supports introduction of biocontrol

MS could do much more for implementation of biocontrol in the EU

Summary