SMP25023 Stacking biological control with other integrated management tactics for sustainable aphid control in open field vegetables

Aphids represent the most important insect pests in many field vegetable crops. Keeping aphid populations at economically acceptable levels without pesticides requires an extensive use of biological control agents (BCAs) and a comprehensive use of integrated pest management (IPM) tools. Available effective management tactics however, are limited. While several management tactics in field crops have been investigated, no practice has been found effective enough as a standalone tool. The combination of BCAs, agronomic measures and functional biodiversity can provide robust solutions, but the integration of combined tactics is not trivial. Combinations of BCAs with other tactics are often incompatible and system-specific insights are needed to develop combinations of tactics that work in a complementary or synergistic ways in reducing aphid populations. When corrective measures are necessary, also biopesticides should be available that are fully compatible with biocontrol and ecological considerations. The development of coherent solutions requires collaboration of international expert groups active along various parts of the vegetable production chain.

Our goal is to realize a platform of experts with broad and specific expertise to address the shortcomings of aphid management in Europe, initiate and align common research activities and develop efficient and robust aphid management tactics.

Our objectives are:

- Prioritise field vegetable crops to combine aphid control measures; identify caveats and synergies in broader pest and disease management framework.

- Identify complementarity between management tactics and define conditions where BCAs are effective in different crops, (re)define relevant damage thresholds.

- Follow through with national (PPP) and international research initiatives to address caveats and match participants expertise to vegetable – aphid combinations.