An Israeli scientist has developed a unique method to protect crops from pest damage by spreading specially treated plastic sheets on the ground before sowing or planting.
Professor Fadel Mansour, of the Agricultural Research Organisation’s Volcani Neve Ya'ar Research Center in Lower Galilee, used the method on melon crops and date crops .
The system is based on preventative methods rather than through the use of toxic chemicals, explained Mansour, who has worked with Israeli firm BioPack to develop the plastic sheets.
He reported that preliminary experiments showed that the BioPack repellent sheets prevented the entry of even one single pest to crops protected by this method.
Samuel Shatzky, ceo of BioPack, said that based on the findings of Professor Mansour and on the response of growers who have already used the BioPack technology, the company plans to increase its marketing efforts on both local and international markets. “[We plant to] realise the great contribution that this technology provides to environment-friendly agricultural practices,” said Shatzky.
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