Uruguayan fruit producers reduce pests by up to 90% with biological control

 

 

A group of Uruguayan fruit producers, in partnership with a pest management program developed by the Ministry of Livestock and the Faculty of Agronomy, has been able to reduce the use of chemical pesticides between 80% and 90%. According to them, this was possible thanks to the application of biological control techniques of citrus pests.

 

According to Sergio Vola, who is a producer of apples, peaches, plums, pears and apricots, the principle of this new technique is basically to cause confusion between the male and the female so that they can not reproduce and generate other pests. The producer has been part of the program for six years, as well as 400 other Uruguayan producers.

 

"It basically confuses the male and the female with the use of pheromones in plants that expel an odor that can confuse the female and attract the male. So, if we focus this odor a lot, the male will not know where it is coming from and will not be able to find the female under any circumstances. In this way, they do not reproduce and, consequently, the next generation of these pests is eliminated," said Vola.

 

This pest control program, which can reduce the application of agrochemicals, has already been applied to approximately 95% of Uruguay's fruit production, which represents 3,700 hectares. The Minister of Livestock said that the program had a "very positive" result in reducing the use of pesticides between 80% and 90%. He said it was "nature at the service of production".

 

"We will have to use it (biological control) to optimize productivity, produce more and more, but at the same time take care of the environment. So, this is a very important tool," he concluded.