Context

In modern intensive agriculture, the only effective method of controlling some pests has been based on the generic and indiscriminate use of insecticides, which even requires various active substances to be applied simultaneously to control a pest effectively. The vast majority of insecticides (and their waste products) have a persistence that can exceed 21 days, which means that if they are applied when fruit is ripening (which is usually when most insect damage occurs), residues of pesticide may be detected in the fruit. This leads to a loss of quality, and they cannot be sold in more demanding markets with higher sale prices. As a result, action must be taken to solve one of the main problems that affects the fruit sector when marketing their product: the presence of traces of synthetic insecticide residues.
Given the above, the general objective of the project is to reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in cherry cultivation, and to replace them with a means of pest control based on fostering functional biodiversity. In agronomy, functional biodiversity is considered to be all insects that act as auxiliary fauna or natural enemies that can control one or more pest insects. This project therefore aims to enhance functional biodiversity by implementing auxiliary crops (plant cover) which benefit humans, and are also known as an ecosystem service.