Plant Protection and Biodiversity

Improving potato production techniques

Organic quality potatoes are an important market commodity and a high value crop for growers. Although considerable progress has been made in terms of plant protection (from various foliar and tuber pathogens and pests such as Phytophtora infestans, Rhizoctonia, wireworms), yields are highly variable from year to year and the percentage of non-marketable produce is exceptionally high. Our applied research projects focus on the questions of which new cultivars and heirloom or exotic varieties are suited for organic production, how fertilization, plant protection, and crop rotation can be optimized, and how substantial improvements in quality can be achieved.

Contact

• Bernhard Speiser

Publications

• Publications about Improving potato production techniques

Fundamentals of soil-plant-disease interaction

Plant health also depends on soil fertility, specifically soil structure (air and water balance), nutrient levels, and microbiological activity. Disease-reducing soil properties can be weakened as well as enhanced by cultivation techniques. Soil preparation, fertilization, and use of good quality compost are priorities. The goal of our research projects is to gain a better understanding of these interactions. Stable agricultural systems, which are highly adaptable to the hazards of climate change, are of fundamental interest to us. We are especially interested in "clover soil fatigue," i.e. the effect of pathogens that proliferate in crop rotations with many legumes.

Contact

• Barbara Thürig
• Jacques Fuchs

Projects

• EU Project QualityLowInputFood (QLIF)
• National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) Plant Survival
• Soil Fertility Project (in German)

Publications

• Publications about Fundamentals of soil-plant-disease interaction
• Publication "Soil biological quality in short- and long-term field trials with conventional and organic fertility input types"

Mechanisms for plant resistance

Recent research has shown that crops possess a number of defence mechanisms, which can be activated to varying degrees and which are collectively known as resistance induction. The systematic use of these natural defence mechanisms may be of great benefit to organic production. Research is conducted by way of field trials and greenhouse trials as well as using modern techniques of molecular biology.

Contact

• Barbara Thürig

Publications

• Publications about mechanisms of plant resistance
• Publication "An aqueous extract of the dry mycelium of Penicillium chrysogenum induces resistance in several crops under controlled and field conditions"
• Publication "An extract of Penicillium chrysogenum elicits early defense-related responses and induces resistance in Arabidopsis thaliana independently of known signalling pathways"

Beneficials for pest control

Nearly every pest is known to have a beneficial as a natural enemy. These beneficials may be fungi, viruses, bacteria, predatory or parasitic insects or arachnids. There are some very efficient beneficials for some pests, and these are being used effectively on a commercial scale. The use of these beneficial organisms enables reduction in the use of standard pesticides. Through systematic research and development, we hope to discover additional beneficials and test them against pests in various crops. The goal is to collaborate with industry and get new products approved and on the market.

Contact

• Claudia Daniel
• Henryk Luka

Projects

• Regulation of cherry fruit fly

Publications

• Publications about Beneficials for pest control

Protecting plants from pests

Direct plant protection measures are frequently used as a last resort in organic production due to the limited selection of approved products available to organic farmers. In order to ensure profitable production and high quality of certain crops, however, these products are important. Selective and effective plant protection methods in line with organic standards are being developed in collaboration with industry partners. Novel insecticides, physical controls, pheromones and plant tonics are thus priorities for research.

Contact

• Claudia Daniel

Projects

• Control of oilseed rape pests

Publications

• Publications about Protecting plants from pests

Testing of plant protection products

Various plant protection products and plant tonics are approved for organic crop production. These products may be of botanical (e.g., fennel oil) or mineral (e.g., argillaceous earths) origin. In cooperation with partners in the industry FiBL tests new products and assesses their mechanism of action, their spectrum of activity and their environmental behaviour. In recent years the focus has been on fruit production and viticulture. In the context of EU-funded and other research projects, new methods of controlling important plant diseases such as grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) and apple scab (Venturia inaequalis) are being assessed. 

Contact

• Hans-Jakob Schärer

Projects

• EU-Projekt REPCO  (project concluded)
• EU-Project FORESTSPECS
• Annual Biocontrol Inductry Meeting (ABIM)

Publications

• Publications about Testing of plant protection products

Plant protection: Strategies and epidemiology

Organic production relies on preventative measures against plant deseases more than any other agricultural production method. Direct control measures are a last resort. These consist of special fungicides, biocontrol organisms and elicitors (resistance inducers). Plant protection products require optimum application techniques and timing, especially when efficacy is only partial. The use of warning systems based on the analysis of weather data as decision aids in timing applications is on the rise. The use of such warning systems can substantially improve pest and disease control in organic production as well.

Contact

• Lucius Tamm

Publications

• Publications about Plant protection: Strategies and epidemiology

Seed quality and breeding

Healthy seed and vegetative propagating material is of paramount importance for organic production. Seed must be true to variety, must not be contaminated with genetically modified organisms (GMOs), must have a high germination percentage and vigour, and must be disease-free. Along with the compulsory use of organically grown seed, there must be methods in place that enable (i) the early detection of quality-related problems, (ii) acceptable levels of seed production in the field, and (iii) seed treatment in line with organic standards. This project will promote the production of high quality, healthy vegetable seed. For a few key crops, we are searching for organically appropriate methods and products to treat seed for seed-borne pathogens.

Contact

• Hans-Jakob Schärer

Projects

• OrganicXseeds - database for organic seeds

Publications

Publications about Seed quality and breeding

Evaluating inputs and technologies for organic production

The use of auxiliary inputs such as plant protection products, fertilizers, disinfectants and products to control veterinary pests is regulated in various bodies of public legislation (Switzerland, EU, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization FAO) and private-sector standards (Bio Suisse, International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements IFOAM). A formal approval process confirming compliance with organic standards, however, is lacking in Switzerland as well as in the rest of the world. With its list of approved auxiliary inputs (Hilfsstoffliste), FiBL has established a standard for scientific testing and approval since 1996. The strict and transparent regulation of auxiliary inputs is an important tool in gaining consumer trust. International standardization of the regulations and criteria for approval of new products is thus of paramount importance.

Contact

• Bernhard Speiser

Projects

• EU Project Organic Inputs Evaluation
• EU Project 'REBECA' (Regulation of Biological Control Agents)
• Project GM-Impact

Publications

Publications about Evaluating auxiliary inputs and technologies for organic production

Nature conservation and farming

There are numerous studies substantiating the positive effects of organic agriculture on animal and plant species diversity. Nevertheless, it is evident that organic farmers could make even greater improvements in nature conservation. We plan to evaluate the workability of different methods on pilot farms and in pilot regions. An additional priority of this project cluster is the provision of consultancy services to farmers. Nature conservation should become an enterprise that is also economically profitable. In collaboration with the Schweizerische Vogelwarte bird observatory and Bio Suisse, FiBL is striving to preserve intact, diverse ecosystems and promote biodiversity.

Contact

• Oliver Balmer 
• Lukas Pfiffner

Projects

• Scoring for Diversity - farmers enliven nature

Publications

• Publications about Nature conservation and farming

Biodiversity for the farmer‘s benefit

When deployed intelligently, biodiversity can also be of direct benefit to the farmer: pest populations can be reduced by systematic promotion of predatory and parasitic beneficials through carefully selected companion plantings within and around the crops. These promotion measures must be adapted to the crop and to the pest complex. Moreover, they must be technically and economically feasible. Thanks to basic and applied research, strategies for functional biodiversity are being developed for various crops.

Contact

• Oliver Balmer
• Henryk Luka
• Lukas Pfiffner

Projects

• Functional biodiversity
• Sustainable Fruit System

Publications

Publications about Biodiversity for the farmer‘s benefit