Biologicals for disease and pest control:
a farmer led case study
Professor Robert Edwards
School of Natural and Environmental Sciences
Newcastle University
Dr Roma Gwynn
Biopesticide Strategist
Rationale
The end of industrial agrochemical spraying ?
Environmental & health concerns
The precautionary principle
Decline in new MoA discovery (commercial)
Resistance
Global market
Increased
Over
300% *2008-2018 B
IOP
ES
TIC
IDE
S
Global market 2019 value
over
$6 billion*
Incr
ease
A shift to Biological agents - Global markets
* DunhamTrimmer, 2018
A shift to Biologicals - EU plant protection product - pending registration*
* October 2016
EU Sustainable Use Directive 2009/128/EC
Fungi
Virus
Bacteria
Predatory
mites
IPM
Semio
chemicals
Micro-
organisms
Synthetic
Chemical
pesticides
BiorationalesInsects
Botanicals
Agro-
ecosystem
Monitoring
Crop
botany
EPN
Macro-
organisms
Macroorganisms
Botanicals Semio-chemicals
Microorganisms
Biologicals
Multiple modes of action
Production of alarm compounds – phytohormone stimulation
Stimulation of new biosynthesis of phytochemicals
Stimulation of plant defense mechanisms
Induction in roots, shoots and leaves
Physical kill of target
Toxicity to target
Phyllosphere microbes
Endophytes
Rhizosphere
Soil microbes
Entomopathogens
With growing understanding – a better awareness of the value of biologicals- the microbiome
The microbiome
Can we reduce our dependence on synthetic fungicides in wheat production using biologicals ?
Fusarium ear blight Yellow rust
Septoria triticiPowdery mildew
The YAS-EIP Project
2018 Trial protocol
• GLP trials/ORETO standard
• Two winter wheat varieties: Skyfall and Leeds
• Three treatment regimes: – IPM – microbial seed treatment, conventional chemistry at high pest pressure, biopesticides at low pest pressure at standard
spray timings if needed
– Biological – microbioal seed treatment, biopesticides only at standard spay timings if needed
– Conventional chemistry – chemical seed treatment, conventional chemicals only at standard spray timings
– (no untreated)
• 6 replicates
• Randomised block design
• Three trial sites
Trial sites
Stockbridge Technology Centre Cockle ParkNafferton
Yield data - 2018
0
2
4
6
8
10
IPM Conventional Biological
Tonn
es/h
aStockbridge Technology Centre
0
2
4
6
8
10
IPM Conventional Biological
Tonn
es/h
a
Cockle Park
0
2
4
6
8
10
IPM Conventional Biological
Tonn
es/h
aNafferton
Variety
Left column = Leeds
Right column = Skyfall
Quality data – 2018 Nafferton
0
5
10
15
20
25
Moisture Moisture ProteinContent
ProteinContent
Nitrogencontent
Nitrogencontent
Leeds Skyfall Leeds Skyfall Leeds Skyfall
IPM Conventional Biological
Quality data – 2018 Cockle Park
0
5
10
15
20
25
Moisture Moisture ProteinContent
ProteinContent
Nitrogencontent
Nitrogencontent
Leeds Skyfall Leeds Skyfall Leeds Skyfall
IPM Conventional Biological
Quality data – 2018 Stockbridge Technology Centre
0
5
10
15
20
25
Moisture Moisture ProteinContent
ProteinContent
Nitrogencontent
Nitrogencontent
Leeds Skyfall Leeds Skyfall Leeds Skyfall
IPM Conventional Biological
Biologicals – a change in understanding contexts
soil ecology, plant ecology, landscape ecology, biology, microbiology,
genetics, microbial ecology, population biology, plant physiology, population
modelling, landscape modelling, population ecology, etc.………………
and maybe, sometimes, even chemistry
Biologicals – knowledge exchange
• Open days – at all three sites in 2017 and 2018
• Evening meeting in 2017
• Seminar – Great Yorkshire Show
• Website: www.crophealthnorth.co.uk
Education
Knowledge transfer to advisors, farmers, consumers, food suppliers, government, regulators:
• New technology – education/ costs/ value to business
• Understanding risks (or lack of risks?)
• New approach to crop protection – change resistance
Technology that can operate autonomouslyNext steps: integrating Biologicals with predictive diagnostics
Thank you for your attention
YAS Farmer Science Network: [email protected]
www.crophealthnorth.co.uk