Abstract
Among arable crops, potato needs more interventions against bio-aggressors than other crops. In France, in 2014, the mean treatment frequency index was about 18 per year including 14 solely for late blight (Phytophthora infestans) protection. Many French and European regulations make this dependency on pesticides extremely precarious. Media pressure is already very strong and is encouraging reform of crop protection. For 7 years, Arvalis has been conducting research programmes to find alternative or complementary methods to pesticides for potato protection. These studies have been focussing on weeds, soil pests, late blight, skin blemish diseases, haulm destruction and sprout control. For example, the means for an integrated protection system against late blight are in place; they include prophylactic measures, less sensitive cultivars, risk assessment by a decision support tool, strain monitoring, choice of suitable fungicides, precision spraying and defence stimulants. Other research programmes on biocontrol and service plants (e.g. for biofumigation) also receive attention. Our results are significant but remain insufficient yet, as protection methods need to be further adapted. Time is running out to provide farmers with innovative methods to protect their crops without loss of profitability in the coming years.
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