The Biophyto project, launched three years ago, aims to produce mangos without using pesticides. The project is of much interest to the island's producers and is led by La Réunion’s Chamber of Agriculture, the Cirad and the AROP-FL.
Twelve producers are participating in the study, and whilst progress has been made over the three years, they have yet to reach an organic way of farming. The project will continue for another year to allow scientists to collect new data.
The first step towards an organic mango is to stop using pesticides. Mango production on La Réunion is faced with many major problems including : chinch bugs, blossom midges, scales and fruit flies. Biophyto offers an ecologically friendly way to deal with such pests by using biodiversity in order to increase the population of useful insects.