While in São Paulo state it was great to take an opportunity to visit some fruit farms, exploring different crops and considering how they can play a role in diversified systems.

Obviously for me the strawberries were the main attraction. Fascinating seeing the different growing systems - Brazil has also gone in for fertigated tabletops, but uses substrates other than coir. Different pests - SWD present but not really a big issue, didn't really see mildew, but mites apparently present a challenge.

Pollination was very exciting - Brazil has a really vibrant culture of stingless bee management. Several dozen species being managed in different parts of the country. And they pollinate strawberries! As part of a mixed system, they could be very useful in supporting pollination of fruit crops. With the tiny species, maybe even cocoa - some studies suggest they could contribute?

#Strawberries #Horticulture #Pollination #IntegratedPestManagement #FruitCrops #StinglessBees

Day 2 of #AAB_IPPM meeting and today is more entomological (but not entirely!). Lots of good talks on the schedule.

#IntegratedPestManagement #IPPM #SustainableAgriculture #HorticulturalEntomology

On my way to AAB Advances in Integrated Pest and Pathogen Management meeting - looking forward to a couple of days hearing about what's happening in applied IPPM research. https://www.aab.org.uk/event/advances-in-integrated-pest-and-pathogen-management/

I'll be talking about aphids on soft fruit, and how to optimise different aspects of biocontrol to improve the approach overall.

#IPM #IntegratedPestManagement #Biocontrol #Parasitoids #Aphids #AppliedEntomology

This, on the other hand, is a glimmer of doom. The #insectageddon has ramifications - not just for insects, but for all species that depend on insects in some ways from fish to birds to mammals, to both crops and wild plants that depend on insects pollination. And the EPA does this because the US #Agricultural industry chooses not to move to less toxic practices for pest control? #IntegratedPestManagement at the more invasive end, #Organic and #RegenerativeAgriculture at the least invasive end are widely practiced. Why do we tolerate #IndustrialAgriculture while knowing about the damage it does?

Perhaps you could contact your Senators and Representative in Washington and ask them to do something? It's easy to find their contact info at https://www.congress.gov/

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/08/us-epa-toxic-pesticides-paralyse-bees-insects?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other

They don't know I just added Nematodes.

#FungusGnats #Nematodes #Beneficials #IntegratedPestManagement #HousePlants #IndoorGardening #PlantCare