a study demonstrates the effectiveness of natural predators as an alternative to pesticides

How to help farmers do without pesticides? For some, this involves “biocontrol”, or promoting biodiversity and natural mechanisms. A study carried out by Brazilian and American researchers, published on March 6, demonstrates precisely to what extent natural predators can represent an alternative to pesticides.

First advantage: these predators are already there in nature. Even if we don’t necessarily pay attention to them, they are nevertheless valuable, recalls Thibaut Malausa, specialist in “biocontrol” at INRAE: “Typically it’s going to be ladybugs, lacewings, ground beetles and birds. Any animals that eat others and are relatively large…”

“Work in the interest of the farmer”

These animals will attack aphids and other pests that ravage crops. According to calculations carried out by Brazilian researchers, they reduce the pest population by 73% on average. They also lead to an increase in crop yields of 25%: “If we really want to work in the interest of the farmer, in terms of the cost benefit of what we offer him, it is very clearly towards these methods that we must go. We must try to manage this functional biodiversity so that they are more numerous and have a greater impact on pests. We can possibly add flowery mixtures, hedges…”

These “biocontrol” techniques aim to reduce the use of pesticides and they can be associated with the application of bio-pesticides, products based on fungi, bacteria or other micro-organisms. In France, the “Grand Défi biocontrol” has just been launched during the Agricultural Show. It aims to accelerate innovation, develop and diversify biocontrol solutions with an investment of 42 million euros as part of France 2030.