For healthy potatoes - Bayer CropScience

pests are controlled, whilst their natural
enemies remain unaffected.
The use of diagnosis tools for monitoring
pests and pathogen populations is a
further important way of targeting treatment,
allowing a limited – and localized –
use of crop protection products.
Avoiding resistance
One of the most important aspects of the
responsible use of crop protection products
is the avoidance of resistance, which, if left
to develop and spread, can allow the pest or
pathogen to thrive even in treated crops.
Resistance tends to develop wherever a
high selection pressure is exerted on pests
and pathogens through the frequent use of
products from the same chemical class of
activity. As compounds within the same
class are often sold by different companies,
resistance management has to be achieved
through an industry cooperation. Thus
three Resistance Action Committees –
IRAC, FRAC and HRAC (I, F and H stand
for insecticide, fungicide and herbicide,
respectively) – operate under the umbrella
of CropLife International. These committees
have developed technical guidelines,
among the recommendations of which is to
rotate products within a crop spray programme.
Resistance-development is a serious,
but ultimately manageable, issue. It tends
to occur most commonly in areas where a
particular product is used too often, or
even indiscriminately. Therefore, preventing
resistance development protects biodiversity
– in so far as an excessive use of
crop protection products is avoided.
The crop protection industry and farmers
have learned their lessons: new
approaches in research and development,
combined with good management practices,
now ensure that resistance is generally
avoided, so that useful products can
continue to serve their purpose over a prolonged
period.
Summary
Although there aren’t any easy solutions to
the problem of maintaining a balance
between efficient agricultural production
and the protection of biodiversity, much is
being done to achieve this end. Recognition
of our common responsibilities and
the co-operation of all stakeholders are
necessary if we are to preserve the natural
resources that underlie both the integrity of
ecosystems, and the well-being of mankind.
Bayer CropScience is showing its
commitment by taking measures during its
research and development activities to
ensure that biodiversity is preserved. We
also co-operate in the development of
locally-tailored technologies and services
towards an integrated, responsible
approach to the use of crop protection
products. ■
Annik Dollacker,
Bayer CropScience AG, Germany