Functional biodiversity

Beneficial insects instead of pesticides against pests in vegetable cultivation

Our aim is to increase functional biodiversity, i.e. to use wild flowers to attract parasitoids into the cabbage field - or to retain them if we release them - to increase natural pest control. By strengthening biological control we can reduce or even eliminate the use of pesticides. Our approach thus increases biodiversity in two ways: directly through the added plants and the organisms that use them as resources, and indirectly through the reduction of pesticides, which always destroy a plethora of non-target organisms.

: Specific wildflower species selected for buffer strips.

: Specific wildflower species selected as companion plants in cabbage fields.

: Companion plants attract parasitic wasps in cabbage fields and provide a food source, which increases the parasitation of pests by parasitoids and reduces the need for pesticides.

Further information

Project leaders:

Oliver Balmer
Henryk Luka

FiBL project team:

Elodie Belz
Ivan Juric
Guendalina Barloggio
Moritz Fürst
Alex Fenn

Collaboration partners:

Felix Wäckers, Lancaster University, UK
Mathias Kölliker, University of Basel, Switzerland
Walter Salzburger, University of Basel, Switzerland
Pius Andermatt, Syngenta AG, Switzerland
Peter Nagel, University of Basel, Switzerland
Michael Traugott, University of Innsbruck, Austria

Funding:

Bundesamt für Umwelt (BAFU) (2007-2015)
Ernst Göhner Stiftung (2008-2012)
Parrotia-Stiftung (2008-2015)
Schöni Swissfresh AG (seit 2011)
Singenberg-Stiftung (2010-2013)
Spendenstiftung Bank Vontobel (2009-2011)
Stiftung zur internationalen Erhaltung der Pflanzenvielfalt (2008-2012)
Werner Steiger Stiftung (2009-2012)