Koppert has compiled, for the first time, the experience it has acquired in the biological control of the main pests of the Canarian banana, the most important crop in the Canary Islands in terms of area and economic value. This first catalog that Koppert dedicates to the biological control of banana plants includes effective biological solutions against different pests, such as mealybug, red spider, thrips, ants, and lizards.
All these biological control solutions are based on releasing natural enemies that prey or parasitize the pests. A good example is the use of Acerophagus artelles, a parasitic wasp native to the Canary Islands that is capable of controlling the mealybug infestation in banana plants more effectively than chemical control, managing to keep this pest's population level very low during the entire crop cycle.
An envelope of Thripex-Plus in a bunch of bananas from the Canary Islands for the biological control of the Thrips plague.
The solutions included by Koppert in its first catalog of biological control in banana crops are the result of years of research and experience in the field. They offer producers a pest control strategy that is compatible with the standards of sustainable agriculture and organic production. The different biological control solutions developed by Koppert are obtaining excellent results in the field. Consequently, the banana-growing area that incorporates these biological control strategies grows every year.
Transition to sustainable agriculture
The catalog of biological control in banana crops was presented a few days ago in Adeje, during the celebration of the first international meeting on the challenges of plant health in Mediterranean and subtropical crops, which was organized by the Phytoma magazine. Koppert participated in the meeting with a scientific presentation on biological control in bananas. In the meeting, institutions, companies, and producers said they wanted the Canary Islands to transition towards cultivation techniques that allow the sector to implement more sustainable and organic agriculture, respecting natural resources and the environment.
Koppert's complete range of 100% natural biological solutions facilitates the Canary Islands banana producers' transition to sustainable agriculture without pesticide residues. “We know what the needs of the producers and marketing companies are because the Canarian banana must respond to the growing demand for a product without pesticide residues. The biological solutions that we offer already make it possible to achieve this,” stated Rudy Llarena, the commercial director of Koppert in the Canary Islands.
For more information:
Koppert
C/ Cobre 22
Pol. Industrial Ciudad del Transporte del Poniente
C.P. 04745. La Mojonera, Almería (España)
Tel.: +34 950 55 44 64
www.koppert.es