About the project

The project is led by Bjørn Arild Hatteland, NIBIO Ullensvang.

At NMBU our focus in on Functional biodiversity to augment natural enemies in high value crops, and the contribution by semi-natural habitats to lepidopteran pest management.

NMBU lead a work package on conservation biological control and a NMBU PhD stipend in functional biodiversity contributes to the project.

NMBU also contribute to research in direct pest control and to use of steam to treat diseases and pests.

• Summary

  Integrated pest management (IPM) has been an important part of fruit production for decades and has since 2014 been mandatory in the EU and Norway. Furthermore, several commonly used pesticides have been banned over the recent years, and new IPM strategies must therefore be developed to obtain a sustainable fruit production in Norway and elsewhere.

  In the proposed project we focus on preventative measures involving studies on conservation biological control and the value of local landscape elements as sources of natural enemies to control pests in fruit orchards.

  This will be done in a combination of field studies, molecular predator gut assessments and bioassays. Furthermore, inundative biological control and use of biopesticides for pest management will be studied. Physical control measures will be investigated, including i) steaming to control pests and diseases in apple and plum transplants, and ii) insect nets to control pests and their non-target effects on natural enemies of pests in cherry orchards.

  Finally, economic cost-benefit analyses and social consequences will be used to evaluate the implementation of the various control measures in future IPM strategies.

• Objective

  Primary objective: Sustainable IPM strategies substituting chemical plant protection in fruits

  Secondary objectives:

  1. Describe preventative control measures for conservation biological control
  2. Investigate the potential of physical control measures against pests and diseases
  3. Optimize control of pests combining biological knowledge and biopesticides
  4. Calculate economic and social consequences of different IPM-strategies
  5. Evaluate and combine IPM strategies and transfer knowledge to fruit growers
• Participants
• External partners

  Bjørn Arild Hatteland, NIBIO, Norway, (Project lead)

  NIBIO,

  NLR, NLR-Viken, NLR-Vest, NLR Østafjells, Norway

  Gartnerhallen, Norway

  Sogn Frukt og Grønt, Norway

  Moleda, Norway

   Nordgrønt/ Ullensvang Fruktlager, Norway

  IRTA, Spain

  NIAB, UK

  Fruit growers