Trying to persuade the public at large about the benefits of pesticides is never going to be easy. “Pesticides will never get a good press,” says an industry insider. “Pesticides is quite an emotive word, and they are thought of negatively, rather than what they are used for.”
However, in recent years pesticide producers have committed to producing chemicals that are less harmful to the environment and have been adapted to contain milder solvents. Many firms have also signed up to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) initiatives.
But despite this progress, consumers remain wary of pesticides and the industry continues receiving negative media coverage.
“There’s a high degree of consumer concern over pesticide residues in food,” says Don Brown, residue services manager of Bodycote LawLabs. “But consumers should be reassured by the very low levels, and infrequency, of residues that are found.”
Retailers are keen to be seen to be listening to their consumers and Marks & Spencer recently hit the headlines when it banned a further 10 pesticides worldwide.
By April 2009, M&S plans to ban a total of 79 pesticides, and those moving to the retailer’s prohibited list include the fungicide Vinclozolin, which is used on grapes, peas and beans, as well as Simazine and sulphuric acid.
“Customers are increasingly concerned about how their food is produced - be it additives in food or how farming methods affect the environment,” says David Gregory, M&S technical director. “We have worked hard to develop a leading position on pesticide reduction - phasing out chemicals before they are officially banned to help allay customer concerns - and are equally committed to doing all we can to protect the environment by using the most sustainable sources of raw materials possible.”
Although M&S has set a long-term goal to eliminate all pesticide residues from fruit, vegetables and salads as well as prohibiting the use of potentially harmful pesticide chemicals, it does acknowledge that most pesticides are safe.
Some consumers buy organic, thinking that they are opting for a safer food. However, although organic food production forbids the use of synthetic pesticide compounds, biological compounds are permitted. These are likely to be derived from plant extracts or copper and sulphur.
Brown points out that while synthetic pesticides are subjected to a huge amount of scrutiny, less is known about biological compounds and their active ingredients, although tests are conducted.
As well as using pesticides to protect yields and maintain healthy food, Stephen Humphreys, food industry support manager for Bayer CropScience, makes the point that if pesticides were not available, much more land would be needed to produce food.
In early May, Bayer CropScience launched two centres of excellence to “promote practical and meaningful approaches to improving on-farm biodiversity”. “Bayer CropScience is positioning pesticides within a health farming centre,” Humphreys tells FPJ.
The Chishill farm, which was formally an apple and plum orchard, has been converted into combinable crops for trial plots, where chemical pesticides can be tested before becoming available.
In recent years, the pesticide sector and fresh produce industry have strengthened their ties. The Voluntary Initiative (VI) was established on April 1, 2001, in place of a proposed tax on pesticides used in agriculture and horticulture.
“The main elements of the VI are now required by all of the major arable and fresh produce schemes, and the vast majority of farmers are extremely supportive,” says Patrick Goldsworthy, VI manager. “We wouldn’t have been able to achieve coverage of more than 80 per cent of the sprayed area if they weren’t. The VI has identified best practice, which many farmers were already following, and put in place measures that demonstrate to everyone that farmers are following those practices.”
The VI is guided by a steering group, led by independent chairman professor Barry Dent. The group comprises senior representatives of the farming and crop-protection industry, environmental groups and regulators. The VI work programme, which focuses on reducing the environmental impact of pesticides, consists of four key activities: research, training, communication and stewardship. The VI steering group sets out annual targets relating to crop protection management plans, sprayer operator training, sprayer testing and the BETA (Biodiversity and Environment Training for Advisers) qualification.
Goldsworthy tells FPJ: “Pesticides are essential tools for sustainable food production in the 21st century, but we have to use what we have safely, effectively and efficiently. Adopting best practice and taking care of the environment are key priorities for farmers and make good economic sense.”
Goldsworthy points out that the VI schemes need to be efficient but also credible, so it is important to be realistic. “Let’s not forget that the VI was originally introduced to stop the pesticide tax and its success is making a valuable contribution to protecting the environment,” he says. “If farmers don’t do some form of self regulation, then politicians will introduce mandatory measures that could be more costly and onerous.”
It is a busy time for the VI. The National Register of Sprayer Operators, which promotes better operator training, has been in place for four and a half years and is being reviewed. Draft proposals for change will be unveiled in mid-June.
“It’s important that all stakeholders participate in the debate to ensure that any changes enhance training, reduce unnecessary paperwork and maintain a successful scheme,” Goldsworthy says. “With an increasing emphasis on regional government, changes may also need to reflect local priorities.”
Some sources argue that it is not the use of pesticides that is the problem but the residues that are causing the most concern. New legislation that was to harmonise Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs) across EU member states has been delayed and is unlikely to be resolved for another year.
“Different MRLs can still exist in different parts of the EU, but until they are harmonised, it’s a confusing picture,” Brown tells FPJ.
He does, however, believe that consumers should be reassured by MRLs. “MRLs are not necessarily safety levels, and in fact, the MRLs set are a lot lower than safety levels,” he says.
News that Waitrose is looking to make part of its potato range “residue free” next season is likely to bring cheers from some quarters. Waitrose, which uses potato packer Solanum, which in turn works closely with BioFresh, has endorsed the storage of potatoes using BioFresh’s ethylene storage system.
This process has been trialled and used in commercial potato stores for several seasons by growers and packers including Solanum, Branston Potatoes and MBMG. However, according to BioFresh, no retailer has previously stocked and actively promoted residue-free potatoes.
Richard Barnes, BioFresh’s managing director, says: “The results of the work we have carried out with Solanum have shown that not only is ethylene very successful in suppressing sprouting in potatoes, it also doesn’t have any effect on the taste and texture of the potatoes - even susceptible varieties such as King Edward, Maris Piper and Marfona - as long as the stores are kept well ventilated and CO2 is not allowed to build up.”
He adds that unlike other ethylene management systems, the BioFresh system has been proven to accurately maintain ethylene at the required levels in potato stores and uses pure ethylene gas with no contaminants.
Potatoes that are stored for a number of months are normally treated with the chemical CIPC. According to BioFresh, this has been the only commercially available sprout suppressant for potatoes but, by its very nature, CIPC will almost always leave a detectable residue on tubers.
BioFresh hopes that as more growers adopt the ethylene storage system, a fully CIPC-free range will be available in the next few years.
“Although the pesticide residue of CIPC is safe, it’s an emotive issue,” Barnes explains. “Every retailer challenges its suppliers to minimise pesticide residues and getting rid of these is key, rather than getting rid of pesticides altogether.”
Certis is hoping its bio-insecticide CyD-X(TM), which recently gained UK registration, will ensure a breakthrough in reducing top-fruit residues. As the UK’s first granulovirus, this bio-insecticide applies a virus that occurs in nature and specifically targets codling moth. It has been formulated as a spray treatment for apples and pears and delivers control following feeding by the codling moth larva on a treated leaf or fruit surface. According to Certis, it leaves no adverse effects on beneficial insects.
“CyD-X will be a very useful addition to the control measures for codling moth and is the first of this type of product to be introduced by Certis,” says the company’s Alan Hogan. “It is an important step forward for the top-fruit industry.”
Fertilisers used in organic food production may not receive much press coverage, but Law Fertilisers, an independent company supplying fertilisers and crop protection to the market, has announced that 11 of its fertilisers and trace element products have been certified for organic use by the Soil Association.
Fertilisers that have gained organic certification include Laws High K, Laws High N and Laws High P, as well as boron, copper and iron.
“The organic market is increasing both here in the UK and abroad and these specialist growers expect to produce crops of high quality and yield, just like their conventional counterparts,” says managing director Mark Law. “Using our natural plant-based fertilisers, soil fertility can be improved in a sustainable way and crops allowed to respond by improving yields and better quality. Trace elements can boost growth and rectify any deficiencies that may arise.”
Potatoes is one product Law has focused its attention on. The fertiliser company says its copper-based fungicide, Wetcol 3, has received considerable interest, as this product is suitable for both conventional and organic potatoes.
“Fully approved, Wetcol 3 is a copper-based fungicide registered for use in potatoes as well as a wide range of vegetable and fruit crops,” says Law. “In addition to blight prevention, the soluble calcium in Wetcol helps to reduce internal rust spot in potatoes and can help skin finish.”
Both the Soil Association and Organic Farmers & Growers have permitted the use of Wetcol 3.
SIGNUM TARGETS BRASSICAS
Chemical company BASF is confident that its fungicide Signum could make further gains within the brassica sector. According to BASF, Signum, which contains boscalid and pyraclostrobin, gives excellent control of all the important brassica diseases such as dark leaf spot and white blister. It also provides useful control of ringspot.
“When Signum was introduced in brassicas two years ago, it raised the bar when it came to disease control,” claims Simon Townsend, product stewardship manager for BASF. “In Brussels sprouts, a programme of Signum reduced the level of ringspot on the buttons from 26 per cent on the untreated down to just three per cent, and the level of white blister from 2.5 per cent on the untreated down to zero.”
According to BASF, Signum is not just a broad-spectrum fungicide. Townsend explains: “Both pyraclostrobin and boscalid have been demonstrated to inhibit ethylene production in the plant, leading to crops that are less stressed and resulting in improved yields. Such crops also appear to have a greater tolerance of drought or water logging. Signum helps the plant maximise nitrogen uptake and utilisation, through effects on nitrate reductase production. This means more efficient use of nitrogen and correspondingly higher yields.”
EUROPE ON ERADICOAT’S HIT LIST
Following Eradicoat’s success in the UK, IPM specialist Biological Crop Protection (BCP) is planning to market the soft pesticide Europe-wide, in conjunction with its sister company Certis.
By controlling pests through physical, rather than chemical, means, Eradicoat has been shown to be highly effective against a host of common glasshouse pests, says BCP. According to the company, Eradicoat has quickly established itself as a key component of IPM programmes in the UK and is primarily used by growers of high-value salads and soft fruit to treat hot spots of spider mite and whitefly. Working in conjunction with biological controls, Eradicoat is approved for use in both conventional and organic production systems.
“With no MRL or pre-harvest interval (PHI), Eradicoat and its alternative formulations Majestik and Eradicoat T can be sprayed on a crop right up to, and even during, harvesting,” says BCP’s general manager Jennifer Lewis. Currently exempt from registration in the UK and Sweden due to its physical mode of action, Eradicoat is also registered as a natural product in the Netherlands.
BCP is looking to gain approval of Eradicoat as a biopesticide throughout Europe. “The UK’s Pesticide Safety Directorate (PSD) is leading the way in registration of biopesticides across Europe and BCP is working with PSD to progress a European-wide registration,” Lewis tells FPJ.
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