Syngenta presented the 'Pollinator Operation' for greenhouses, seeking to take advantage of existing aid to promote biodiversity. The project has been implemented in European extensive crops for ten years.
'Pollinator Operation' is an international project that has been on-going in Europe for 10 years, mainly in farms with extensive crops where multifunctional margins have been planted around the plots. In these, native flowers serve as refuge and food source for many pollinator species and the beneficial auxiliary fauna. The project is one of the pillars of The Good Growth Plan of Syngenta in Spain.
Syngenta, in partnership with Greenyard and Semilleros Laimund, organized a conference under the title 'Biodiversity as a key element for Almeria's agrosystem: sustainability in local activities', which served to present the implementation of the 'Pollinator Operation' project in areas of Almeria and Murcia. The conference was attended by about 200 technicians, producers and specialized press, who had the chance to learn about the advantages of these sustainability-oriented actions.
In Almeria, the 'Pollinator Operation' project has been adapted so that it can be applied in areas with horticultural and ornamental plant greenhouses. Thus, hedges with flowers and plants either surround the outside of the greenhouses or are placed in nearby lands. There are different types of flowers and plants that can be placed in these hedges, depending on the climate of the area and the type of crop. These plants help promote the appearance of pollinators and beneficial auxiliary fauna for biological and pest control.
Aid
The Conference served to highlight several points that aroused the interest of producers and technicians. In the first place, the existence of grants by the Government of Andalusia to implement this type of sustainability projects in greenhouses. Through the Rural Development Programs (PDR), it is possible to subsidize the planting of these hedges around the greenhouses, so it is convenient for producers to obtain information from the PO's or the local administration.
During the Conference, it was also made very clear that the implementation of this type of project is essential to be able to stand out in Europe with great quality and environmental standards.