Category: Bioprotection successes
Stories from farmers using bioprotection approaches to combat pests and increase yields.
Almería, Spain, is one of the largest greenhouse production regions in the world. It exports tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and more, with approximately 3 million tonnes of produce grown each year. In the early 2000s, the region relied heavily on broad-spectrum pesticides, which can kill multiple organisms. These pesticides included some classified as highly hazardous, meaning they posed a high risk to the environment and human health.
Pest problems in greenhouses
The enclosed nature of greenhouses makes them an ideal breeding ground for pests. The humid and warm temperatures also exacerbate or pest outbreaks. In Almería, chemical pesticides were traditionally used to tackle pest problems. However, the overuse of these pesticides led to resistance in key pests like Bemisia tabaci (whitefly) and Tuta absoluta (tomato leafminer), rendering these products useless. Additionally, the pesticides eliminated natural enemies, exacerbating the pest problem.
Export markets also began to reject produce with pesticide residues. Safety concerns regarding the health risks of these residues mean that markets often enforce maximum residue limits (MRLs) and reject produce that exceed these levels. This situation pushed growers to seek solutions that could overcome these challenges.
The shift to biocontrol
To address issues of pesticide resistance and residues, growers introduced biocontrol agents. These included Encarsia formosa, a parasitic wasp for whiteflies, and Nesidiocoris tenuis, a predator of leaf miners, whiteflies, and thrips. They also began using integrated pest management (IPM) practices such as sticky traps, physical barriers, and monitoring. Crucially, they reduced or eliminated the use of highly hazardous pesticides.
What this meant for greenhouse growers
Pest control in the region became more sustainable and cost-effective. Reducing reliance on pesticides allowed for a natural approach to pest management without building resistance or causing environmental harm. This helped lower input costs and increase yields. Additionally, Almería’s produce is now marketed as residue-free, opening up premium export markets. Almeria is now known to be one of Europe’s leaders in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) adoption.
In summary
Biocontrol thrives when pesticides – particularly highly hazardous pesticides – are eliminated. In Almería, growers discovered that biocontrol agents could maintain effective pest control once natural enemies were safeguarded. This decreased the necessity for chemical interventions and enabled cost savings.