Activities

To this end, field experiments have been conducted in cooperation with farmers from 5 different EU countries to identify the main pests that attack oilseed rape and their natural enemies so as to analyse their life cycles and environmental needs. The most economically viable and environmentally- friendly strategies to fight these pests were also tested in two crop systems: a standard one and another where strategies to reduce the use of pesticides were used. (see additional information field)

Additional information

The results of the project provided a table with information on pest life cycle and environmental needsfor 6 pest species. This information can be used as input in agriculture decision support systems so as to predict when the pests will be active and for how long depending on weather information. This allows better targeting of pesticide treatments to cause a big impact on the pest and a low one on its enemies. Research on pest enemies showed that they have long periods of activity followed by peaks of migration. For example, applying pesticides at the beginning of the pest enemies’ migration period is less harmful to them because the pesticide is less active when the individuals that migrate the latest arrive.

Strategies to reduce pesticide use proved to be effective and cost efficient. It was seen that in low tillage systems, pest natural enemies overwinter better since the soil is not turned over and they are not exposed. This leads to a better biological control of the pest.

http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/64569_en.html