Building sustainable agriculture
and an attractive countryside
Experiences with Pesticides of
Natural Origin in The Netherlands
The University of Warwick
31st October 2007
Peter Leendertse and Joris van Herk
Centre for Agriculture and Environment
Project ‘Genoeg’
GEwasbeschermingsmiddelen van Natuurlijke Oorsprong Effectief Gebruiken
= Effective use of natural pesticides
Topics
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Definition PNO
Context
Genoeg: series of projects
Experiences
Future
Definition PNO
Plant protection product of natural origin (PNO) include:
Micro organisms, pheromones, plant enhancers, plant extracts,
natural ‘chemical’ substances (minerals, natural gasses, etc).
-> within project Genoeg also synthetically produced ‘natural’
pesticides
Context
•In the Netherlands since mid nineties different
governmental projects towards reduction of use
(Multi Year Plan on Plant protection, Sustainable
Plant Protection Plan) and towards stimulation of
“use of natural products”.
•Dutch law had a provision for low toxicity profile
PPP’s (regulation exempted pesticides: RUB).
Glastuinbouw
Infiltratiepunt DZH
Gemaal De Jong
Fruitteelt
Gemaal Brakel
Gemaal Stuvers
Gemaal Baanbreker
Maas Keizersveer
35%
n=58
30%
% van bemonsterde stoffen dat een norm overschrijdt
c onc . > MT R en < drinkwater
c onc . > drinkwater en < MTR
c onc . > drinkwater en > MTR
n=132
n=133
25%
n=60
n=60
Chemical pesticides in water
n=125
20%
n=140
15%
10%
5%
0%
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Context
Regulation Exempted Pesticides (RUB):
• Pesticides that need not be evaluated because of their
low toxicity profile (e.g. soap to control pests, beer to
control slugs, seaweed extracts)
• Very basic screening of toxicity profile
• Is model for Genoeg approach for the evaluation of
products (evaluate what is necessary risks assessment).
Genoeg: series of projects
Initiative Horticultural Growers Organisation
and Centre for Agriculture and Environment
(CLM):
– Especially horticulture has great need
for organic and natural products
– In certain crops, control of pests >
95% integrated pest management
(mainly natural enemies)
Genoeg: series of projects
Start in 2001
Aims:
1. Stimulate authorisation of natural products (cofinancing,
help with dossier)
2. Issue management (gain more knowledge and spread
knowledge to growers (excursions, seminars, website))
3. Up-to-date inventory of PNO’s (separate good from bad
products!)
4. Stimulate communication and advisory service on use of
natural products
5. Be a clear signal to government and policy makers
Genoeg: series of projects
Funded by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture and - initially - the
Product Board for Horticulture
Current projectteam:
•Board for the Authorisation of Plant Protection Products and
Biocides (Ctgb): Hans Mulder
•Plant Protection service (PD): Dirk Jan van der Gaag
•CLM: Yvonne Gooijer & Joris van Herk
Others: Wageningen University Research Centre (WUR, PPO),
Dutch Organisation for Agriculture and Horticulture (LTO),
National institute for Public Health and Environment (RIVM)
Genoeg: series of projects
1. 2001-2002: Exploration (analysis of parties,
inventory of effective natural pesticides)
2. 2003: Issue management
3. 2003-2005: Project Genoeg Toegelaten
(support of 5 natural pesticides for use in
glasshouses)
4. 2004-2007: Project Genoeg Breed (support
of 10 natural pesticides for all uses)
Genoeg: exploration
•
Extensive inventory of
natural products used
worldwide, resulting in
1200 products of which
250 with known efficacy.
•
Analyses of parties
involved in natural crop
protection in horticulture
Genoeg: issue management
•
Website www.genoeg.net
•
Seminars
•
Newsletters
Genoeg: support in registration
procedure
Activities
1. Support in registration
• Literature research (RIVM/PD)
• Helpdesk CTB
• In house assistance of Ctgb during application
process
• ‘Finger on the pulse’
2. Co-financing
• 50% of costs for research and registration
• max 100.000 euro
Genoeg: support in registration
procedure
Approach:
•No new set of requirements; within the present
legal framework
•What is the absolute minimum of data required?
•Use as much as possible argumentations,
extrapolations, justified risk assessment.
Genoeg: support in registration
procedure
Steps:
•Selection by Genoeg Breed team (criteria)
•Signing of commitment-contract
•Primary literature search
•First check on dossier data
•Dossier amendment (argumentations)
•Pre application completeness check by CTB Helpdesk
•Go-no go point
•Further dossier amendments
•Filing of application
Genoeg: support in registration
procedure
Selection of products:
•Product of natural origin
•Data on efficacy and preferable tox available
•Low toxicity profile
•Successful authorisation expected
•Company that will defend the product
Genoeg: Succesfull support
Authorised products with support of Genoeg:
•
DIPPER (ascorbic acid): for disinfestation of bulbs
•
TRIANUM (Trichoderma harzianum): plant strengtheners
•
BOTANIGARD (Beauveria bassiana): against white flies in vegetables
and flowers
•
ENZICUR (potassium-iodide and -thiocyanate): against mildew in
roses etc.
•
PREFERAL (Paecilomyces fumosoroseus): against white flies in
vegetables and ornamental plant cultivation
•
Regulation Exempted Pesticides (RUB): e.g. potassium phosphate,
chitosan.
Horti Fair Innovation Award 2007!
Genoeg: support in registration
procedure
At this moment:
7 agreements for
support and cofinancing
of 13 NEW products
Genoeg: experiences
Pro’s:
•
10 products authorised
•
Without help Genoeg applicants would not have
started
•
Successful help during application process (lots of
discussions), without help application would not have
been successful
•
Financial help
•
All parties have learned a lot
– Need for basic set of data
– Better use and acceptance of argumentations
– Increased insight in uses and risks involved
– Exchange of views and start of discussions
– Better mutual understanding
Genoeg: experiences
Cons:
•
Despite help no quick process – learning process for all
takes time
•
Discrepancy EU approach (all items adressed preferably by
studies) vs. Genoeg approach (extended use of
argumentations)
•
More communication and discussions between parties
needed
•
Specialized advisors needed to assist potential applicants.
Context
At this moment 51 PNO’s have a registration:
•
•
•
•
18 products based on micro-organisms
5 products based on sulphur
2 products based on plantextracts
26 products on Regulation Exempted
Pesticides (RUB)
Building sustainable agriculture
and an attractive countryside
Future
•Projects Genoeg will end 1/1/2008
•Discussion of follow up is ongoing
•PNO’s can contribute to IPM, clean water and
safe products
•Items for discussion–governmental
organisation, funding of applications and
research, better use of advisors, stimulate use of
products, communication and information
management.