Sustainability Assessment of Plant Protection Strategies in Swiss Winter Wheat and Potato Production

Patrik Mouron,Stève Breitenmoser,Simon Spycher,Chiara Calabrese,Robert Baur

doi:10.3390/agriculture6010003

Abstract

Production of arable crops in Switzerland is subsidized for services performed within the Proof of Ecological Performance (PEP) program, the crop protection part of which is based on IPM principles. Within PEP, chemical insect control must rely on those approved insecticides that are deemed harmless for beneficial arthropods. Approved insecticides potentially impacting beneficial arthropods may also be applied, but only if unavoidable and with an official permit. In order to assess the ecological and economic sustainability of this PEP program, a reference insecticide strategy illustrating the current PEP requirements was compared with other strategies. For this purpose, a sustainability assessment taking account of ecotoxicological risks and economic viability in addition to the preservation of beneficial arthropods was performed according to the SustainOS methodology. The results show that the one-off use of Audienz (spinosad) to control cereal leaf beetle (Oulema melanopus)—a key pest in winter wheat—would significantly improve sustainability vis-à-vis the reference (Nomolt (teflubenzuron) plus Biscaya (thiacloprid)). However, in the case of the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata), in potato crops, where Audienz is considered the reference, no alternative would exhibit better sustainability. Moreover, the study shows that strategies using Novodor (Bacillus thuringiensis) protect beneficial species well but have the drawbacks of increased yield risk and higher costs. The conclusions drawn from these analyses allow recommendations for modifications of the PEP requirements for these two pest insects. The SustainOS methodology, a multi-step process combining expert knowledge with quantitative assessments including a sensitivity analysis of key target parameters and a rule-based aggregation of assessment results, yielded valuable insights into the sustainability of different crop protection strategies.

Highlights

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is widely accepted as a holistic crop protection approach that aims to create resilient and sustainable agro-ecosystems [1]
According to the experts’ experience, the situation under the 2012 Proof of Ecological Performance (PEP) requirements is well illustrated by the reference strategy (C1), in which first the molting inhibitor Nomolt and the neonicotinoid Biscaya is used against the cereal leaf beetle
The reference strategy (C1), which illustrates current practice as part of the 2012 PEP conditions, involves one treatment with Audienz for the Colorado potato beetle and one treatment with Plenum for aphids, assuming that the damage threshold has been exceeded for both pests

Summary

Introduction

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is widely accepted as a holistic crop protection approach that aims to create resilient and sustainable agro-ecosystems [1]. In Switzerland, IPM was introduced as part of Integrated. Production in the years between 1970 and 1980 [3] Since it has gained recognition and become the mainstream production scheme, supported by the national subsidy program established under the Direct Payment Ordinance of the Swiss Law on Agriculture [4]. Of the usable agricultural area is managed according to Integrated Production requirements, as compared to the 12% farmed according to the Organic Production Program [5]. Half of the IPM area in Switzerland falls under the Swiss Extenso Program, which forbids the application of any insecticides and fungicides. The requirements for subsidies in Switzerland are described in detail in the Proof of Ecological Performance (PEP) [8]

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Conclusion