The forthcoming meeting on integrated crop and animal protection, UWS, will review the progress made in recent years to reduce costs and improve the efficacy of biological control agents (BCAs). These agents (i.e. fungi, bacteria, viruses, nematodes) in crop protection programmes can offer a more environmentally friendly alternative to chemical pesticides. They also offer an alternative where pests and diseases have developed resistance to synthetic chemical pesticides. However, BCAs usually have a narrow host range and can give inconsistent and poor control in the field. More attention, therefore, needs to be given to the development of biopesticides with a wider host range and improvements in the production, formulation and application technologies.

Efforts also need to be made to increase our understanding of the ecology of these organisms, and to optimize the impact of these agents by integrating them with other novel crop protection strategies.

Target audience includes farmers interested in integrated crop protection and sustainable production systems, including organic growers, small-medium size enterprises, research scientists, registration authorities and extension services.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Tariq M. Butt
School of Biological Sciences
University Wales Swansea
Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP
UK

Tel: Fax: E-mail:

+44 1792 295374 +44 1792 295447 T.Butt@swansea.ac.uk

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Last updated on 2003-APR-02 by frf