From Crop Protection to Crop Health
Professor Rob Edwards is Head of Newcastle University’s School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and chairs Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Farmer Scientist Network.
My scientific career has been focused on finding ways of protecting our crops from pests and diseases. Over the past few decades we have been very successful in doing that, but in more recent years two serious issues have arisen: concerns about the environmental and health effects of modern pesticides and increasing resistance of pathogens to the pesticides we use. The latter has been a particular problem in controlling fungal diseases affecting wheat.
That’s why, just like the NHS, we are looking at alternatives with more emphasis on enhancing the health of crops rather than treating disease. The Yorkshire Agricultural Society’s Farmer -Scientist Network brings together scientific and practical expertise to push forward innovation and new technology in agriculture. A grant from the European Innovation Programme for Agriculture (EIP-AGRI) is enabling the Network to carry out trials, looking at different approaches to crop protection.
Working with a group of farmers and technologists we are comparing the effectiveness of synthetic and “biologic” products on different wheat varieties’ disease resistance, yield and quality. The trials are taking place at three sites: Stockbridge Technology Centre in Yorkshire and Newcastle University’s Cockle Park and Nafferton farms in Northumberland. By using three different sites we are also able to test performance on different soils and in varied climatic conditions.
The biologic reagents are micro-organisms used to coat seeds before sowing or sprayed onto the plant. They work, rather like probiotics in human medicine, to strengthen the plant’s natural resistance. These are relatively new to the UK but likely to become widely available over the next few years.
The research will continue over the next two years, with open days when farmers and anyone who is interested can come and learn about the trial. The results will be widely disseminated as they could help ensure our food security in future. In the meantime, if you want to know more, please contact the project coordinator, Holly Jones at the Yorkshire Agricultural Society: Email: Hollyj@yas.co.uk
Within this project, Rob will be acting as the Lead/Scientific Coordinator of the project.
Dr Phillip Davis
Applied Photobiologist, Stockbridge Technology Centre.
Within this project,
Philip will be a Technical Specialist and
Test Site Lead for Stockbridge
Technology Centre.
Project Timeline
Project updates as they happen
July 2021
Biopesticides ‘as good as pesticides’ to protect wheat (Global Plant Protection News)
You can read the article here: UK: Biopesticides protect wheat | Global Plant Protection News (iapps2010.me)
Biopesticides ‘as good as pesticides’ to protect wheat (Farmers Weekly)
You can read the article here: Biopesticides ‘as good as pesticides’ to protect wheat – Farmers Weekly (fwi.co.uk)
Webinar and presentation slides for project evaluation event, 28th July 2021
Wednesday 28th July 2021, 14:00 – 15:00pm
To view the PowerPoint slide: Crop health North PowerPoint July 2021
To view the webinar*, please visit: https://vimeo.com/642367095
*Please note, the webinar took place on a particularly stormy day in Yorkshire, which did have impact on it’s quality with our AV supplier who was streaming the event on behalf of the project team. However, the quality still allows you to understand the speakers.
Summary
Over recent years the industry has followed a route that may have its own failings either through resistance issues, loss of actives and changes in regulation.
Biological crop protection products, or bioprotection products, work in many ways, to strengthen the plant’s natural resistance but also as direct antagonists to fungal and bacterial diseases and against insects. These are relatively new to the UK cereals but likely to become widely available over the next few years.
This session aims to showcase the work of Crop Health North who have conducted farmer field trials to investigate the effectiveness of using biological crop protection products vs. conventional chemical pesticides for crop protection in wheat.
The session will cover:
- Exploring different methods of crop protection practice
- Hear results from our spring and winter wheat trials comparing the effectiveness of these products on different wheat varieties ‘ disease resistance, yield and quality over a 4-year period.
- Explore next steps for the bioprotectants and their use on cereals in the future.
Who should attend?
- Farmers
- Agronomists
- Industry partners
Chair
- Prof Rob Edwards, Chair of the Farmer Scientist Network and Head of the School for Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Newcastle
Speakers
- Richard Bramley, Chair of the National Farmers Union Environment Forum / Yorkshire arable farmer
- Dave George, Specialist in Precision Agronomy, Newcastle University
- James Standen, Farm Director, Newcastle University Farms. Newcastle University
- Dr Roma Gwynn, Biopesticides Strategist, Biorationale
- Tom King, Technical Manager, Eurofins
- Stephanie Sunley, Project Manager, Stockbridge Technology Centre
June 2021
IBMA Workshop, 6th June 2021
On Wednesday 9th June 2021, the IBMA hosted an online workshop to explore the role of biocontrol’s and the shift to nature, titled: ‘The shift to nature positive food and
farming – what role for biocontrol?’
Richard Bramley (The Farmer Scientist Network) was invited to speak at the event to share his views as a farmer on the use of biocontrol’s in the future. You can see the flyer here: IBMA FFF_9th June 2021
November 2020
IAFRI Science Symposium Online, 17th – 19th Nov 2020
Scientists from Fera and Newcastle University discussed current research in the context of recent national and global challenges; sharing knowledge and innovation to promote collaboration and exchange of ideas. There were opportunities to examine how we can respond to demands in sustainable agriculture and food production, with consideration to recent government Bills in the agri-food-environment and the National Food Strategy. Keynote speakers have been confirmed for sessions in food, farming, environment and chemicals; with specific reference to the challenges of 2021 and beyond.
The event will be opened by David Kennedy (Defra DG Food, Farming and Biosecurity) and features guest speakers Richard Bramley (Farmer Scientist Network) David Hill (The Environment Bank) Sue Davies (Which?), Guy Pengelley (Milltrust), Dave Bench (Crop Protection Association) and will be closed with a keynote address and student prizes awarded by Prof Gideon Henderson.
To see the summary of the event and the programme, visit: Join the digital Fera Science Ltd & IAFRI 2020 Science Symposium
April 2020
EVENTS
Demonstration days, exhibitions and presentations
Webinar and presentation slides for project evaluation event, 28th July 2021
Wednesday 28th July 2021, 14:00 – 15:00pm To view the PowerPoint slide: Crop health North PowerPoint July 2021 To view the webinar*, please visit: https://vimeo.com/642367095 *Please note, the webinar took place on a particularly stormy day in Yorkshire, which did have impact on it's quality with our AV supplier who was streaming the event on behalf of the project team. However, the quality still allows you to understand the speakers. Summary Over recent years the industry has followed a route that may have its own failings either through resistance issues, loss of actives and changes in regulation. Biological crop protection products, or bioprotection products, work in many ways, to strengthen the plant’s natural resistance but also as direct antagonists to fungal and bacterial diseases and against insects. These are relatively new to the UK cereals but likely to become widely available over the next few years. This session aims to showcase the work of Crop Health North who have conducted farmer field trials to investigate the effectiveness of using biological crop protection products vs. conventional chemical pesticides for crop protection in wheat. The session will cover: Exploring different methods of crop protection practice Hear results from our spring and winter wheat trials comparing the effectiveness of these products on different wheat varieties ' disease resistance, yield and quality over a 4-year period. Explore next steps for the bioprotectants and their use on cereals in the future. Who should attend? Farmers Agronomists Industry partners Chair Prof Rob Edwards, Chair of the Farmer Scientist Network and Head of the School for Natural and Environmental Sciences, University of Newcastle Speakers Richard Bramley, Chair of the National Farmers Union Environment Forum / Yorkshire arable farmer Dave George, Specialist in Precision Agronomy, Newcastle University James Standen, Farm Director, Newcastle University Farms. Newcastle University Dr Roma Gwynn, Biopesticides Strategist, Biorationale Tom King, Technical Manager, Eurofins Stephanie Sunley, Project Manager, Stockbridge Technology Centre
Crop Health North Conference and Demo Day, June 2020
The Crop Health North Conference and demonstration day will take place in June 2020 at Stockbridge Technology Centre. To register your interest in attending the event, please email: hollyj@yas.co.uk
AICC Conference,14th and 15th January 2020
The Association of Independent Crop Consultants (AICC) aims to maintain professional standards, to provide a forum for the exchange of technical information and to reinforce the independence of its members. The AICC Conference took place on the 14th and 15th January 2020 at Whittlebury Hall, Towcester. Dr Dave George, Newcastle University and Tom King, Eurofins presented the recent results of the project to a sold out conference.
PARTNERS
