From the beginning of the last century – when negative side-effects of the heavy use of persistent chemical pesticides has been recognized and made public by Rachel Carson in her famous book „Silent Spring” – there has been a great public expectations to base plant protection on the use of biological agents (pathogens, parasites, predators, antagonists). and biotechnical means (pheromones, repellents, antifeedants). Especially impressive achievements in the area of biological plant protection have been obtained in the former Soviet Union where biological plant protection means produced in over 600 biological and were used respectively in 1978 and in 1987 on the areas of 15.5 and 35.0 million hectares. Although, due to stopping financial support the scale of production of biocontrol products in the Russian Federation has been significantly reduced still in 2006 the crops on the area of about 15 million hectares were protected using biocontrol means. During this period also in Poland the state supported laboratories produced various biological control agents – mainly Phytoseiulus persimilis and Encarsia formosa – which were used each year on the area of over 600 hectares. Also two microbial insecticides Bacillan and Thuridan based on Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki were commercially produced and broadly used in orchard and garden crops as well as in forests. At present only a fungus Phlebia gigantea is commercially produced in Poland and used in forest protection against phytopathogenic fungi. Although the domestic production of biopesticides and mass rearing of predators and parasites diminished this has been compensated by the activities of advisors and representatives of Koppert and Biobest enterprises but unfortunately the scale of trade and advisory activities are not available publically. A striking example of confidentiality of trade volume data is refusal of providing by commercial firms information requested for EU Commission by van Dijk Agency. A „green light” for biological control may be expected resulting from the Directive 2000/28/WG and Regulation 1107 which determine the obligatory development of integrated programmes of plant protection. For decades the tasks of development of biocontrol were undertaken only by Regional Sections of the International Organization of Biological Control (IOBC). Nowadays such tasks are also undertaken by two commercial organizations: (1) IBMA (International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association) and (2) ANBP (Association of National Biocontrol Producers). Which cover Europe and North America. Of special significance for the future development of biological control in all worrld’s regions are Annual Biocontrol Industry Meetings (ABIM) taking place in Lucerne where meet researchers, technologists and extension specialists. We agree with prof. van Lenteren who considers that „We biocontrol specialists – are greatly needed”.
JavaScript jest wyłączony w Twojej przeglądarce internetowej. Włącz go, a następnie odśwież stronę, aby móc w pełni z niej korzystać.