3 reasons why biocontrol is unlocking sustainable and profitable agriculture

Chemical pesticides are falling out of favour with consumers and regulators alike. There’s never been a clearer need to maintain plants and crop health in a way that’s sustainable and keeps the balance of the farm ecosystem in check.

That’s where biocontrol comes in. A natural solution, biocontrol is an alternative to chemical pesticides that’s gaining traction year on year – by 2025, it’s estimated that the market will be worth $10 billion. But what’s fuelling this growth and why should companies targeting the agricultural, food and related industries take note?

Successful participation in the BioAgWorld Congress 2021

10th American Congress of #FruitFlies

Annual Biocontrol Industry Meeting - ABIM 2020

4th TEAM Meeting (France)

NewAg International & Biocontrol Africa (Day 1)

More sustainable disease control and reduced chemical waste, the main reasons cited by Spanish farmers for using biocontrol products

• A total of 79% of respondents say they have used biocontrol products in phytosanitary treatments at some point
• And 63% already employ integrated or organic production strategies
• These numbers come from a survey by Bioibérica of Spanish farmers of different types of crops

The success of CeraTrap® in the control of fruit flies in Peru continues

• CeraTrap® is a liquid food attractant, 100% organic, for the control of fruit flies, highly effective and selective.
• Fruit Flies are considered the most harmful agricultural pest in the world and causes significant economic losses in the main fruit growing areas worldwide.
• 2019 was a very good year for the flagship product of the range of Attractants of Bioibérica - Plant Health as it obtained authorization in Greece and Mexico, and in Spain its use was extended to Table Grape, Fig Tree and Pomegranade.

Cera Trap®, Bioiberica’s eco-friendly attractant for the management of the fruit fly, approved for use by Greece and Mexico

• Spain has approved the use of Cera Trap by non-professionals, as well as its use on minor crops such as fig and pomegranate.
• Cera Trap is a liquid food attractant, highly efficient and pesticide-free, specifically designed for the management of ceratitis capitata, the Mediterranean fruit fly.
• The Mediterranean fruit fly is considered one of the most destructive agricultural pests, causing major economic damage in all major fruit producing areas in the world.

CERA TRAP®: a bioprotection solution for the control of fruit flies.

Mass trapping arose in Spain in the 90s as an effective alternative to the extensive application of insecticides which until then had been taken as the only affordable strategy to control fruit flies. Aerial or localised insecticide dusting programmes ended up unbalancing agricultural systems, harming useful fauna, and implies risks for the health of the applier and the end consumer. The use of liquid food lures like Cera Trap® has two added advantages. Liquid lures do not need to use any insecticide substance in their formulation or use. Since they work by emitting volatile protein compounds they tend to mostly attract females (reproductive agent and responsible for damage to the fruit) unlike sexual pheromone compounds which mostly attract males. In comparison to a programme of reiterated insecticide treatments, the strategy of mass trapping with Cera Trap® can significantly reduce the infestation on the plant as well as damage to fruit to an even lower level than the standard insecticide programme (e.g. synthetic pyrethrins) with the extra advantage of reducing chemical waste, the creation of resistance, and the economic and environmental cost of managing insecticide active substances as well. Recently, the mass trapping system has slowly been replacing programmes of recurring insecticide applications, turning into a complementary tool within integrated pest management (IPM) and offering an effective and economically viable option for the optimal control of fruit flies.