Some 12 billion pest controlling insects have been released in Andalusian greenhouses since the start of August heralding the beginning of winter greenhouse cultivation in the region.

A large proportion of Andalusian greenhouses have stopped using pesticides in favour of miniscule beneficial insects are used which act as natural predators to the pests.

The most frequently used predators in greenhouse cultivation are Amblyseius swirskii, Orius laevigatus, Aphidiua colemani and Diglyphus isaea which have proved effective against thrips, whitefly, leaf miners and aphids.

According to the Andalusian fresh produce association Hortyfruta, at the start of the current campaign, a total of 13,583 hectares of cultivation are using biological pest control, a landmark which distinguishes the region from the agricultural techniques used in other areas of Spain and elsewhere in the world.

All Andalusian peppers are cultivated using biological control, followed by aubergines 40 per cent, cucumbers 26 per cent, courgettes 25 per cent and tomatoes 25 per cent.

Some 2500 million kilos of vegetables are produced in Andalusia under biological pest control each year, 65 per cent of which is destined to the foreign export market in Germany, France and the UK.

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