Pesticide Reduction Research Articles

Research on water footprint of main crops production in Baoding, China

Based on the monthly meteorological data and basic agricultural data of Baoding Meteorological Station, this paper uses the Penman formula combined with CROPWAT software, and the gray water footprint calculation manual to calculate and analyze the production water consumption coefficient and production water of the main crops in Baoding in 2018. The results show that the water consumption coefficients of the main crops in Baoding city are cotton, peanut, rice, wheat, soybean, corn and vegetables. The water requirement of wheat in the whole growth period is mainly blue water, and the corn water requirement is mainly green water; the gray water footprint of all crops is greater than the blue water footprint. In 2018, the total production water footprint of major crops in Baoding was 65.31×108m³, of which the blue water footprint was 18.93×108m³, the green water footprint was 13.06×108m³, and the gray water footprint was 33.31×108m³. The sum of the blue water and gray water footprints is much larger than Baoding’s average available water resources, and the regional water shortage is serious. Therefore, Baoding should further optimize the agricultural planting structure in order to protect the water resources and environment, and at the same time promote the reduction of pesticides and fertilizers to increase efficiency.

СОСТОЯНИЕ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ ОРОШАЕМЫХ ЛУГОВО-СЕРОЗЕМНЫХ ПОЧВ ОСТАТОЧНЫМИ КОЛИЧЕСТВАМИ ПЕСТИЦИДОВ

In the Republic of Uzbekistan widespread agrotechnical and melioration measures are carried out, aimed to melt the population demands on the ecologically clean agricultural products. The output quality can be improved through quantity reduction of residue toxic pesticides accumulating in soil. Study of soil quality, development of agro-engineering measures on pollution decrease are an important problem today. The research was conducted in the fields of meadow sierozem soil with a total area of 5 hectare of selected agricultural holding. In 5 key fields soil samples were taken for chemical analysis. As an experimental zone the 1st cut was chosen, placed with a height of 420 meters above sea-level. In the first ten days of April 26 soil samples were selected from soils 0-30, 30-50, 50-80, 80-100, 120-150 centimeters with 3 cuts and 2 borer points (hand drill). The research was conducted in field and laboratory conditions. Solution of obtained soil samples was tested on Mass- chromatograph machine. In determining of initial ecological state of soil, the main focus was given to organochlorine pesticides with toxic effect. Admissible quantity (MAC) in soil for pesticides HCCH and its metabolites is 0,1 mg / kg. Laboratory research showed that in analytics in all cuts the number of pesticides is high, that is 1-35, 3 times higher than MAC, determined for soil.

Chemical reduction of chlorpyrifos driven by flavin mononucleotide functionalized titanium (IV) dioxide

Abstract For many decades, organohalide and organophosphate compounds have shown significant detrimental impact on the environment. Consequently, strategies for their remediation continue to be an area of emerging need. The reduction of the chlorpyrifos pesticide, a molecule that bears both organohalide and organophosphate functional groups, is an important area of investigation due to it toxic nature. In this report, we demonstrate the effectiveness of the biological molecule, flavin mononucleotide (FMN) toward chemically reducing chlorpyrifos. The FMN was found to be highly active when anchored to nanocrystalline TiO2 surfaces. The results show new directions toward the remediation of organic contaminants under mild reaction conditions.

Decision processes in agriculture

Bounded rationality theory, first developed by Herbert Simon (1947), is one of the first contributions to political science that explicitly focuses on decision processes and links cognitive science to research on decision processes at the level of both the individual and organisations. In line with more recent behavioral research, bounded rationality theory holds that public policy design should build on a realistic model of human behavior. The article analyzes the decision processes of Danish farmers against their responses to two versions of pesticide taxes implemented in Denmark, one in 1998 and the other in 2013. The two taxes achieved different success rates, although neither version achieved the pesticide reductions predicted by ex-ante models that built on the assumption of farmers as economically rational. We find that farmers’ decision processes are consistent with features of bounded rationality, which may partially explain why the taxes were not as effective as predicted. However, with the second version of the tax adopted in 2013, the tax rate was doubled, which may have prompted farmers to give higher priority to economic objectives, possibly explaining why this recent version of the tax has been more successful.

Experimental Evidence for Using Vegetated Ditches for Mitigation of Complex Contaminant Mixtures in Agricultural Runoff

Feeding a growing population requires striking a balance between increasing production and decreasing environmental impacts in agricultural settings. We established 12 experimental mesocosms with silt loam atop a base of sand and examined the ability of three emergent aquatic plants common to the USA to remediate pesticides and nutrients in agricultural runoff. Mesocosms were planted in monocultures of Myriophyllum aquaticum, Polygonum amphibium, and Typha latifolia, or left unvegetated to serve as controls. All mesocosms were amended with target concentrations of 10 mg L−1 (each) nitrate, ammonium, and orthophosphate; 20 μg L−1 (each) of the pesticides propanil and clomazone; and 10 μg L−1 of the pesticide cyfluthrin. After a 6-h-simulated agricultural runoff with amended water, mesocosms sat idle for 48 h before flushing with unamended water for another 6 h. Outflow water samples were collected and analyzed for contaminant concentrations. Most significant differences between vegetated mesocosms and controls occurred when comparing mean contaminant transfer/transformation rates post-amendment. Differences among plant species occurred regarding retention of dissolved nutrients orthophosphate, ammonium, and nitrate. Similarly, all three plant species retained more propanil than controls during post-amendment (8–48 h), but individual plant differences occurred with regard to clomazone and cyfluthrin retention. While variation in mitigation of specific dissolved components of nutrients suggests different mechanisms involved in nutrient cycling within our mesocosms, consistent overall total nutrient and pesticide reduction during the post-amendment period indicate that holding runoff in vegetated ditches may reduce transport of agricultural contaminants to downstream aquatic ecosystems.

Microwave-Assisted Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Using Melia azedarach for the Management of Fusarium Wilt in Tomato.

These days, research in agriculture is focusing on the theme of sustainability along with protection of agriculture produce. Nanotechnology in the agriculture sector aims for the enhancement of agricultural produce and the reduction of pesticides through providing innovative agrochemical agents and their novel delivery mechanisms. The current investigation involved the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from the aqueous leaf extract of Melia azedarach by following a microwave-assisted method to control Fusarium oxysporum, the causal agent of tomato wilt. Biosynthesized Melia leaf extract (MLE)-AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry, dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential analysis. The intensity of the peak at 434 nm in UV-vis spectra, attributed to the surface plasmon resonance of MLE-AgNPs, changes with reaction parameters. TEM exhibits spherical shaped nanoparticles with an average particle size range from 12 to 46 nm. Efficient inhibition of F. oxysporum, the causal agent of tomato wilt, was achieved after exposure to MLE-AgNPs both in vivo and in vitro. In vitro studies exhibited repressed fungal mycelial growth with 79–98% inhibition as compared to the control. Significant increases in growth parameters of tomato seedlings were observed after treatment with biosynthesized nanoparticles as compared to F. oxysporum-infected plants grown without them under greenhouse conditions. Furthermore, SEM imaging was done to reveal the prominent damage on the cell wall of hyphae and spores after MLE-AgNP treatment. Propidium iodide (PI) staining of mycelium indicated the extent of cell death, causing irretrievable damage and disintegration of cellular membranes by altering the membrane permeability. Also, 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescence specifies intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in F. oxysporum after treatment with MLE-AgNPs. The current investigation suggested that biosynthesized nanoparticles can revolutionize the field of plant pathology by introducing an environment-friendly approach for disease management and playing a potential part in agriculture industry. However, to date, little work has been done to integrate nanotechnology into phytopathology so, this area of research is in need of adoption and exploration for the management of plant diseases.

Spraying Ozonated Water on Bobal Grapevines: Effect on Wine Quality.

Ozonated water is being introduced as an alternative phytosanitary treatment to control grapevine diseases in a context in which the reduction of chemical pesticides has become an urgent necessity. In this study, we evaluated the effect of spraying grapevines with ozonated water on the enological, phenolic, and aromatic qualities of Bobal wines during two consecutive growing seasons. In the first season, ozonated water was applied once during the ripening period on grapevines trained on the traditional gobelet system (S1). In the second season, three applications were performed between fruit set and harvest on grapevines grown on a vertical trellis system (S2). The S1 treatment led to a wine with an increased alcoholic degree and a remarkably higher phenolic content, which resulted in preferable chromatic characteristics. The S2 treatment maintained the total phenolic content but significantly enhanced stilbenes and flavanols and also reduced anthocyanins, which negatively affected the wine colour. Regarding aroma, both treatments reduced the content of glycosylated precursors and had different effects on free volatiles, both varietal and fermentative. Thus, the metabolic response of grapevines to the ozonated water stress, and therefore the quality of wines, depended on the ozone dose received by the plants.

Determinants and overuse of pesticides in grain production

PurposeThe negative externalities of pesticide overuse increasingly concern the public. However, little empirical evidence has been provided for pesticide overuse and the relationship between the governmental agricultural extension system reforms and pesticide use in grain production from a nationwide perspective. The purpose of this paper is to estimate the productive effect and overuse of pesticides, and it also investigates the effect of the governmental agricultural extension system reforms on pesticide expenditure in rice, maize and wheat production in China.Design/methodology/approachA two-equation system model consisting of an exponential-specific damage-control production function and a pesticide use function is applied to the provincial-level data during the period 1985–2016.FindingsWhile pesticide expenditure significantly increases grain productivity, the actual pesticide expenditure exceeds the economically optimal level. The commercialization reform of the governmental agricultural extension system contributed to the increase in pesticide expenditure. Moreover, the de-commercialization reform of the governmental agricultural extension system plays a limited role in pesticide reduction. Price fluctuations for grain and pesticide also impose significant effects on pesticide expenditure.Originality/valueThis study has two important policy implications for pesticide reduction in China. It is urgent to specify the functions of the governmental agricultural extension system, and encourage the development of the socialized agricultural technology service. More efforts should also be made to remove the bureaucratic intervention on the pricing mechanism of grain product and pesticide.

Behavior of biomaterials in relation to the conservation time and temperature: stability test of a bioproduct

All products before reaching the consumer's table go through a battery of analyzes, in order to check if these materials resist the weather, temperature, climate changes, friction, including transportation. Whether they really support physical, chemical and biological factors and also with the idea of estimating the useful life of these materials. Biomaterials are no different, all bioproducts are also subjected to resistance tests to reach industry, or long-term production. Among the numerous possibilities that exist for the application of biomaterials, recently the bioactive ones encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles of controlled action stand out with their several alternatives of application, among them as natural insecticides, aiming at the reduction of conventional pesticides, including fungicides, used in the activation and controlled release of the drug.Thus, this research aims to develop a formulation and verify its behavior as a function of time and temperature (25 °C), as well as the application of different preservatives. , [phenoxyethanol-2-methyl-2H-isothiazolin-3-one-NE), citric acid and thymol] in order to verify its influence on the stability of the formulations as a function of time. Among all tested formulations, the one containing the preservative NE was the only one approved in all parameters.

A Study on Rice Growth and Soil Environments in Paddy Fields Using Different Organic and Chemical Fertilizers

Currently, the majority of paddy fields in Japan are grown using chemical fertilizers and synthetic chemical pesticides, since chemical fertilizers can provide the nutrients necessary for plant growth. However, there are concerns regarding the environmental impact of chemical fertilizer and pesticides production, such as reduction of soil microorganisms and water pollution due to the runoff of fertilizer components from the soil caused by excessive fertilizer application. In this study, we investigated the effects of the application of organic and chemical fertilizers on the plant growth of paddy fields, in addition to their effects on the chemical and biological properties of the soil. The panicle numbers of rough and brown rice, the 1000-grain weight of the rough and brown rice, and the percentages of ripened grains were significantly higher in paddy soils grown with organic fertilizers than in those grown with chemical fertilizers. In addition, the total carbon (TC) contents and pH values were significantly higher in the soils of paddy fields grown with organic fertilizers. Furthermore, the soils of paddy fields grown with organic fertilizers exhibited greater bacterial biomasses, N circulation activity, and P circulation activity than the soils of paddy fields grown using chemical fertilizers, although the differences were not significant. In this study, the difference in plant growth was appeared in fertilizer application such as organic and chemical fertilizers. It was indicated that the organic fertilizer and pesticide reduction management increased the soil bacterial biomass and activated the material cycle such as N circulation activity.

Predation of potential insect pests in oil palm plantations, rubber tree plantations, and fruit orchards.

In human‐modified landscapes, important ecological functions such as predation are negatively affected by anthropogenic activities, including the use of pesticides and habitat degradation. Predation of insect pests is an indicator of healthy ecosystem functioning, which provides important ecosystem services, especially for agricultural systems. In this study, we compare predation attempts from arthropods, mammals, and birds on artificial caterpillars in the understory, between three tropical agricultural land‐use types: oil palm plantations, rubber tree plantations, and fruit orchards. We collected a range of local and landscape‐scale data including undergrowth vegetation structure; elevation; proximity to forest; and canopy cover in order to understand how environmental variables can affect predation. In all three land‐use types, our results showed that arthropods and mammals were important predators of artificial caterpillars and there was little predation by birds. We did not find any effect of the environmental variables on predation. There was an interactive effect between land‐use type and predator type. Predation by mammals was considerably higher in fruit orchards and rubber tree than in oil palm plantations, likely due to their ability to support higher abundances of insectivorous mammals. In order to maintain or enhance natural pest control in these common tropical agricultural land‐use types, management practices that benefit insectivorous animals should be introduced, such as the reduction of pesticides, improvement of understory vegetation, and local and landscape heterogeneity.

농작업자의 보호장비 착용 수준에 따른 농약 노출량 저감 영향

농작업자의 보호장비 착용 수준에 따른 농약 노출량 저감 영향

Effective removal of organophosphorus pesticide residues in tomatoes using natural extracts

AbstractThe reduction efficiency of the extracts of Albizia amara and Acacia concinna against most widely used organophosphorus pesticides such as dimethoate, malathion, dichlorvos, and chlorpyrifos on tomato samples was investigated. The pesticide residues were quantified by gas chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (GC‐MS/MS). The maximum reduction efficiency was achieved from the samples treated with 8% A. concinna extract on dichlorvos (87%) and dimethoate (84%) followed by 6% A. amara on malathion (83%) and chlorpyrifos (64%) and comparatively higher than water wash and it shows the reduction of only 14–38% for 15 min. The sensorial property and lycopene content of tomato samples were assessed and these plant extracts showed no significant effects on color, texture, and lycopene content after washing treatment. These phytochemical rich plant extracts exhibited greater reduction ability against pesticide residues without changing the nutritional and sensorial characteristics of the treated tomato samples. The current study may be a platform for formulating a cost‐effective, safe, and natural cleanser for the effective removal of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables.Practical applicationsPresence of multiple pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables is a worldwide problem in food safety. Particularly, tomatoes are most often consumed without cooking, hence it is essential to estimate the pesticide reduction efficiency of the common washing procedure. Washing of tomatoes with chemical solutions to remove pesticide residues leads to additional chemical exposure. Therefore, the reduction efficiency of natural plant extracts such as Albizia amara and Acacia concinna on four pesticides (dimethoate, malathion, dichlorvos, and chlorpyrifos) was studied. The method for the analysis of pesticide using GC‐MS/MS was validated according to SANTE 11813/2017 to detect the pesticide residues in tomatoes after each washing treatment. This study showed that the natural extracts could be a good tool for the removal of multipesticide residues effectively from the tomatoes without compromising its nutritional and sensory properties. The pesticide decontamination with plant extracts was effective, economic and safe for household and commercial applications.

Histopathological alterations in gills of a fish (Astyanax bifasciatus) in neotropical streams: negative effects of riparian forest reduction and presence of pesticides.

The reduction of riparian vegetation around aquatic environments causes several physicochemical alterations and favors the entry of pesticides via surface runoff. Such changes have negative effects on aquatic organisms. In this study, we evaluated histopathological alterations in gills of Astyanax bifasciatus to test the hypothesis that more severe histopathological alterations occur in gills of fish from streams with higher agricultural impact from the surrounding area. The specimens were collected by electrofishing in seven streams of the lower Iguaçu basin between August 2015 and February 2016. The gills were processed according to routine histological methods and examined by light microscopy. The histopathological alterations, mainly stage II (lamellar aneurysm and total fusion of lamellae), were observed in fish collected in streams with higher agricultural activity. In these streams, the histopathological index indicated slight to moderate organ lesions. In contrast, in streams with more vegetation cover, fish collected presented stage I histopathological alterations (lamellar edema and lamellar hyperplasia), and the HI indicated normal functioning of the gills. In addition, chloride and acid mucous cells were more abundant in the gills of fish collected in rural streams. Our findings demonstrate that more severe histopathological alterations were registered in fish collected from streams with intense agricultural activity in the surrounding area. Therefore, it highlights that vegetation cover around the streams is a positive force for the conservation and health of aquatic organisms.

Effect of storage, washing, and cooking on the stability of five pesticides in edible fungi of Agaricus bisporus: A degradation kinetic study.

Pesticide residue in food products is one of the most important global health challenges. The current study sought to investigate the changes in pesticides residue levels in Agaricus bisporus under different storage conditions and during washing and cooking. Pesticides analysis was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). The results showed that the half‐life (t1/2) of all of the studied pesticides stored at room temperature was lower than refrigerator and freezer temperature. In addition, the greatest reduction of diazinon, malathion, permethrin, propargite, and fenpropathrin was found at a pH of 12, 2, 12, 7, and 9, respectively. Although sodium chloride had no effective impact on pesticide reduction during the same washing times, the removal of pesticides increased as washing time increased. Further, the reduction of pesticides was time‐dependent during the boiling, microwaving, and frying processes. Based on these findings, the stability of insecticides, such as permethrin, malathion, and diazinon, was lower than acaricides, including propargite and fenpropathrin, in various techniques. Therefore, the use of washing solutions with an appropriate pH as well as increased cooking time may reduce the risk of pesticide exposure.

Application method affects pesticide efficiency and effectiveness in wheat fields.

There is an urgent need to enhance pesticide effectiveness while reducing adverse environmental impacts, based on the pesticide reduction program that requires net zero growth in chemical pesticide applications by 2020. Agricultural production can benefit from appropriate pesticide application using the optimal method. In this study, the effects of different application methods on the effectiveness, spray deposition, and residue behaviour of 48% phenamacril · tebuconazole suspension concentrate (SC) in wheat production were compared to determine the most efficient and effective method. 48% phenamacril · tebuconazole SC was most effective in controlling Fusarium head blight (FHB) and mycotoxin contamination. Statistically significant differences in the control effect, spray deposition, initial residues, and half-life (t1/2 ) were subsequently observed with different application methods, suggesting that the application method plays a key role in pesticide availability and control efficiency. The differences in control efficiency and pesticide residues between application methods were thought to be related to droplet size, droplet distribution, and penetrability. Unmanned aerial vehicle and mister sprayers were found to effectively increase the control efficacy of 48% phenamacril · tebuconazole SC in terms of FHB control and mycotoxin concentrations, as well as enhancing pesticide availability. These findings are of theoretical and practical value for the scientific application of pesticides in wheat, helping to enhance pesticide utilization while reducing harmful residues. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

What about the environment?

PurposeFungus-resistant grape varieties (FRGVs) are the key to more environment-friendly wine growing. This paper aims to examine whether German consumers are willing to buy environment-friendly wines. The study focuses on reducing the amount of fungicides applied and the improvement of the carbon footprint, which are both related to the FRGVs . Furthermore, a cluster analysis leads to more insights into the consumer groups that are open to environment-friendly wine.Design/methodology/approachA choice experiment was conducted among 1,500 German wine drinkers with the following attributes: “reduction of pesticides”, “reduction of carbon emissions”,“familiarity with the grape variety”,“organic certification”, the slogan “better for the environment” and“price”. The individual-level, part-worth utilities were estimated using the Hierarchical Bayes method. The Ward’s method was used to cluster the individual-level, part-worth utilities. The participants’ wine involvement and environmentalism are used to further analyse the sample.FindingsThe most important attribute is “price”, followed by the “familiarity with the grape variety” and the “reduction of pesticides” and of “carbon emissions”. The least important attribute is “better for the environment”. The cluster analysis results in three clusters: the green-minded, the traditionalists and the price-minded.Practical implicationsThe insights about the consumer acceptance of environment-friendly wines can be used to market these wines more effectively to consumers.Originality/valueThis is the first study that combines a choice experiment with attributes that are derived from the benefits of fungus-resistant grape varieties.

Influence of low‐pressure nonthermal dielectric barrier discharge plasma on chlorpyrifos reduction in tomatoes

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the influence of nonthermal dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma on chlorpyrifos reduction in tomatoes. As plasma contains highly reactive species and free radicals, it is expected to cause oxidative degradation of the target pesticide chlorpyrifos into its metabolites, thereby reducing the pesticide concentration. Tomatoes applied with three initial pesticide concentrations ranging from 0.6 to 0.8 ppm were subjected to DBD plasma of 2–5 W for the exposure of 4–6 min. The plasma‐treated and control samples were examined for the concentration of pesticide and the physicochemical attributes. The maximum reduction of 89.18% in the pesticide concentration was observed with 5 W at 6 min, which might be due to the intensified reactions of oxidative plasma species. This was further confirmed by GC–MS analysis, and the predominant metabolite of chlorpyrifos degradation, 3,5,6‐trichloro pyridinol (TCP) was identified in the treated sample. The physicochemical attributes except TSS and pH were also significantly (p < .05) influenced by the plasma treatments. Tomato color index (TI) was enhanced while firmness, bio yield point, carotenoids, and total phenolic contents were decreased considerably after plasma treatment. Thus, the cold plasma would be a promising nonthermal technique to degrade and reduce the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos in tomatoes.Practical applicationsThe present study investigates the potential of cold plasma technique to reduce the pesticide contaminant in the perishable commodity, which would result in a safer as well as intact freshness product. The discovered process conditions, that is, the plasma power of 5 W and the treatment time of 6 min giving maximum pesticide reduction would be efficient as well as economical to consider this method of decontamination as a feasible pretreatment. This would further facilitate its application in processing and distribution lines even on a large scale level to promise the consumers a benign product.

Whitefly Control Strategies against Tomato Leaf Curl New Delhi Virus in Greenhouse Zucchini.

(1) Background: Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV), transmitted by tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), is of major concern in the cultivation of zucchini. The threat of this virus motivates reliance on chemical vector control but European consumers’ demands for vegetables grown free of pesticides provides an important incentive for alternative pest management; (2) Methods: Different whitefly management strategies and ToLCNDV incidences were surveyed in commercial zucchini greenhouses in south-east Spain. In an experimental greenhouse, three different whitefly control strategies, biological, chemical, and integrated (IPM), were evaluated in a replicated trial to determine the most effective strategy for virus suppression (3) Results: Whitefly was present in all commercial zucchini crops surveyed, whereas fewer crops had Amblyseius swirskii or other natural enemies. During three consecutive years, pest management was increasingly based on chemical treatments. Yet, ToLCNDV was widespread in zucchini greenhouses. Experimental results showed that the order of best strategy for virus suppressing was integrated management (73%) > biological control (58%) > chemical control (44%); and (4) Conclusions: IPM was the best strategy for virus suppression. The results can assist in the design of appropriate control strategies for chemical pesticide reduction and decision-making in pest management.

Crop plants with improved culture and quality traits for food, feed and other uses.

The large French research project GENIUS (2012-2019, https://www6.inra.genius-project_eng/ ) provides a good showcase of current genome editing techniques applied to crop plants. It addresses a large variety of agricultural species (rice, wheat, maize, tomato, potato, oilseed rape, poplar, apple and rose) together with some models (Arabidopsis, Brachypodium, Physcomitrella). Using targeted mutagenesis as its work horse, the project is limited to proof of concept under confined conditions. It mainly covers traits linked to crop culture, such as disease resistance to viruses and fungi, flowering time, plant architecture, tolerance to salinity and plant reproduction but also addresses traits improving the quality of agricultural products for industrial purposes. Examples include virus resistant tomato, early flowering apple and low-amylose starch potato. The wide range of traits illustrates the potential of genome editing towards a more sustainable agriculture through the reduction of pesticides and to the emergence of innovative bio-economy sectors based on custom tailored quality traits.