Objectives
The aim is to apply current research to aid the development of a preventative measure to potato blight using saponin sourced from common ivy. The generated biopesticide will provide an effective, natural and potentially low-cost, alternative fungicide for potato blight. Such a natural fungicide will provide a non-polluting alternative for growers that can be used sustainably especially by organic growers who urgently need a replacement for copper-based fungicides.
Objectives
Y nod yw i ddefnyddio ymchwil diweddar i helpu datblygu mesur i atal clefyd tatws gan ddefnyddio saponin wedi dod o eiddew. Bydd y plaladdwr biolegol sy’n cael ei gynhyrchu yn ddewis effeithiol, naturiol a rhad o bosib, a gwahanol i ffwngladdwr ar gyfer clwyf tatws. Bydd ffwngladdwr naturiol yn cynnig dewis sydd ddim mor llygredig ar gyfer tyfwyr a allai cael ei ddefnyddio yn gynaliadwy, yn enwedig gan dyfwyr organig sydd angen dewis arall ar frys ar gyfer ffwngladdwyr sy’n cynnwys copr.
Activities
The trial, builds on earlier successful studies that indicated that crude saponin, extracted from common ivy, inhibit or prevent blight growth. Research to further test this on a larger scale within typical potato growing conditions in Wales will prove the efficacy of the natural component, and will provide a simpler route through regulatory approval.
The project will run over an 18 month period, incorporating two growing seasons. A designated potato seed will be planted on two plots of 40m x 6m in size on two farm sites, one near Aberystwyth and one near Bangor. 5 different treatments will be used on each plot to test the effectiveness of the saponin extract against existing treatments.
Activities
Mae'r prawf yn adeiladu ar astudiaethau llwyddiannus cynharach sydd wedi dangos bod saponin crai, a chaiff ei echdynnu o eiddew cyffredin, yn medru atal tyfiant clwyf tatws. Bydd ymchwil i brofi hyn ar raddfa fwy, ac o dan amodau cyffredin tyfu yng Nghymru yn profi effeithlonrwydd y gydran naturiol yma, ac yn darparu llwybr symlach trwy gymeradwyaeth reoleiddiol.
Bydd y prosiect yn rhedeg am 18 mis, gan ymgorffori dau dymor tyfu. Bydd hadau tatws dynodedig yn cael eu plannu ar ddau blot o 40m x 6m o faint ar ddau safle fferm ger Aberystwyth a Bangor. Bydd 5 triniaeth wahanol yn cael eu defnyddio ar bob plot er mwyn profi effeithlonrwydd y saponin yn erbyn triniaethau sy'n bodoli ar y farchnad yn bresennol.
Project details
- Main funding source
- Rural development 2014-2020 for Operational Groups
- Rural Development Programme
- 2014UK06RDRP004 United Kingdom - Rural Development Programme (Regional) - Wales
Location
- Main geographical location
- Gwynedd
- Other geographical location
- South West Wales
€ 46809
Total budget
Total contributions from EAFRD, national co-financing, additional national financing and other financing.
Project keyword
- Aquaculture
- Arable crops
- Organic farming
- Agro-ecology
- Crop rotation/crop diversification/dual-purpose or mixed cropping
- Fodder and feed
- Outdoor horticulture and woody crops (incl. viticulture, olives, fruit, ornamentals)
- Greenhouse crops
- Pest/disease control in plants
- Pest/disease control in animals
1 Practice Abstracts
This project is targeted at improving farm competitiveness and viability through the creation of an effective, natural and potentially low cost and readily available bio-pesticide to stop the spread of blight.
Development in the understanding of saponins within plants such as common ivy will enable rural communities to utilise more commonly available raw ingredients in the production of chemical compounds. It will potentially develop ivy into a crop rather than being treated as an unwanted invasive species. Ivy grows naturally in the UK so does not need to be imported reducing carbon footprint associated with production and transportation
This will reduce crop wastage through decimation of crops through potato blight and as a direct result allow increased potato sales, improved turnover and improved profitability. Increased certainty of turnover and profitability will also give farms the confidence to invest on farm to further improve farm competitiveness and viability in the future.
The natural base for the product will be looked on in a more favourable light when compared to products developed using chemical pesticides and encourage greater adoption of potato growing by other farmers leading to increased consumption.
The development of a natural based bio-pesticide will also reduce the risk of chemical contaminations into margin areas of crops and local water courses and as such help in the preservation of on farm and surrounding area ecosystem. This project, if successful, will help improve fertiliser and pesticide management, by reducing farmers’ reliance on conventional treatments for blight, which are under threat of withdrawal.
Mae'r prosiect hwn wedi'i dargedu at wneud busnesau fferm mwy cystadleuol, gan wella eu hyfywedd trwy greu plaladdwr biolegol effeithiol, naturiol, chost isel sy'n medru atal y lledaeniad o glwyf tatws.
Bydd cynyddu ein dealltwriaeth o saponinau mewn planhigion fel eiddew cyffredin yn galluogi cymunedau gwledig i wneud y gorau o'r cynhwysion naturiol crai cyffredin sydd ar gael ar gyfer cynhyrchu cyfansoddion cemegol. Gall y prosiect ddatblygu eiddew mewn i gnwd yn hytrach nag chael ei drin fel rhywogaeth ymledol ddiangen. Mae eiddew yn tyfu yn naturiol yn y DU felly nid oes angen ei fewnforio, gan leihau ôl troed carbon sy'n gysylltiedig â chynhyrchu a chludo.
Mae gobaith y bydd y prosiect yn lleihau gwastraff cnwd trwy glwyf tatws, ac o ganlyniad i hyn, yn cynyddu'r arwerthiant o datws, gwella trosiant a chynyddu elw. Bydd mwy o sicrwydd trosiant a phroffidioldeb hefyd yn rhoi hyder i ffermwyr i fuddsoddi er mwyn cryfhau eu busnesau yn y dyfodol.
Bydd canfyddiad pobl ynglŷn â phlaladdwr naturiol yn well i'w gymharu â phlaladdwr sydd wedi’i ddatblygu gan ddefnyddio cemegau, ac felly bydd hyn yn annog mwy o ffermwyr i dyfu tatws, gan ddilyn at fwy o ddefnydd y cynnyrch.
Bydd datblygu plaladdwr biolegol naturiol hefyd yn lleihau'r risg o halogiadau cemegol mewn ardaloedd ymylol cnydau a chyrsiau dŵr lleol. Bydd hyn yn helpu i gynyddu cadwraeth ecosystem ar lefel y fferm a'r ardal gyfagos. Bydd y prosiect hwn, os yn llwyddiannus, yn helpu i wella rheolaeth gwrtaith a phlaladdwyr trwy leihau'r dibyniaeth ar driniaethau confensiynol o glwyf tatws, sydd o dan fygythiad o gael ei dynnu'n ôl o'r diwydiant.
Contacts
Project coordinator
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David Shaw
Project coordinator
Project partners
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David Frost
Project partner
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Ian Harris
Project partner