Raspberry IPM system featured in global hub

"The OECD’s global hub will highlight the best IPM systems around the world, so is a good measure of the James Hutton Institute’s success in this area.

James Hutton Institute senior research entomologist, Professor Nick Birch, has been nominated by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to present his Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programme for raspberries and its application on a recently launched global hub, created to highlight the best IPM systems for different crops around the world.

Funded by the Scottish Government, Defra, HDC and the European Union, the IPM programme was developed over a 15 year period, testing different tools in the UK, as well as raspberry beetle traps in Scotland, Switzerland, France and Norway.

Bio-pesticides with bio-control agents were also tested in collaboration with commercial companies Koppert Biological Systems and Sentomol Ltd, as well as Lincoln University (New Zealand) and the University of Idaho (United States).

The research programme has achieved the goal of reducing dependence on conventional pesticides by at least 30% in 10 years, as well as increasing the durability of pest resistant varieties. Ongoing objectives include promoting use of conservation and augmented bio-control, and testing new and alternative bio-pesticides.

Professor Birch said: “Developing an IPM system takes several years and requires close collaboration with farmers and advisors, through on-station demonstrations and on-farm trials to engage and train farmers and advisors.

“The OECD’s global hub will highlight the best IPM systems around the world, so is a good measure of the James Hutton Institute’s success in this area.”

You can visit the OECD’s IPM global hub, read the James Hutton Institute case study, and find out more about research on Integrated Pest Management at the James Hutton Institute.