Green pesticides

Building and testing of a pilot facility for the production of green pesticides.
A pilot facility will be build and tested for the production of green pesticides from mushroom growth and soft fruit waste.

Coordination: NIAB

Activities 2019

10 October 2019

A report about the results of the pilot has been published. The report can be found in the publications section.

6 March 2019

The new BioBoost rose trial was planted at Peter Beales Roses in Attleborough, Norfolk (UK), on 6th March 2019.  The trial will also be replicated on another site. The trial will look at green pesticide techniques for preventing rose die back disease and will continue through to November 19.

        

15 January 2019

Students visited pilot ‘Green pesticides’ at NIAB’s innovation Hub

10 Horticultural Apprenticeship Students from the College of West Anglia were invited  to learn about the work of the Hub and BioBoost as well as learning pathology techniques relevant to their course.  The students ranged in age from 18 to 50 and employers ranging from the local council, to university colleges. 

Activities 2018

  • The use of chitinous organic waste as nutrient source for biocontrol fungi is being developed with Agrigrub Ltd.
  • The use of organic wastes as repellents in surface pot toppings is being investigated as alternative strategy to vine weevil control in conjunction with Agrigrub Ltd and Celbius Ltd.
  • The combination of organic wastes and mycorrhizal fungal inoculum is being tested on roses, and as a potential control for rose replant disease in the field, in conjunction with PlantWorks Ltd.
  • In laboratory tests, the soft fruit waste liquor bait increased the efficacy of a range of insecticides compared with using the insecticides in water, and was more effective than commercial baits. The soft fruit waste liquor bait is now being tested against spotted wing drosophila in the field at the Pilot facility.

Activities 2017

  1. Facilities were set up and testing as started:
    The influence of organic waste amendments in growing media on the efficacy of a biocontrol fungus against vine weevil larvae (Frankliniella occidentalis)and western flower thrips pupae (Otiorrhynchus sulcatus).
    The first resists show improved longevity and viability of the fungal inoculum.
  2. The use of soft fruit wastes for producing an attractant liquor for control of spotted wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii).
    First results show that the bait has been more attractive than commercial baits.

8 Feb 2017

Recent interesting visit to Walpole Farm with CEO Paul Walpole, discussing future uses for waste blackberries at the Innovation Hub

Due to the Spotted wing Drosophila which has recently established itself across the UK as a pest problem for fruit farmers to deal with because the fly lays its eggs inside the developing fruit; not just in the rotting fruit. Management guidelines therefore requires that all residual fruit is picked to prevent/reduce the problem of infection and overwintering larvae. The result is a significant quantity of soft fruit waste, which our BioBoost project at Innovation Hub plans to recycle.

Back to overview

Partners