There are two strategies herein considered. The first one supports mass rearing
and the use of Trichogramma as an inundative agent on a large scale, but the second
one is the mass production of native agents like predatory mites and lacewings.
Therefore, the capacity of mass production, which lies in the private sector, should
be improved to modify the methods of mass rearing/production and the use of BCAs
in open fields, such as with Trichogramma. The country’s greenhouse area is about
15,000 hectares, while open field crops cover more than 14 million hectares (Ministry of Agriculture Statistics, 2018–2019). Of this amount, about 1,200,000 hectares
are allocated to seven main crops on which currently biocontrol plans are
implemented using Trichogramma. It is possible to cover the whole of this area
only by mass rearing of qualified Trichogramma species to the amount of more than
21 tons of Trichogramma. Therefore, if this agent is required in the country, it is
necessary to start large scale mass production of the wasp for wide range use.
Trichogramma have been mass-reared in the country, millions of areas are covered
by this wasp. Technical knowledge for mass production of single agent will always
be easier than producing several agents. The private sector should be encouraged to
invest in establishing modern insectaries, not the small and local ones, which come
from changing the old houses. Skilled insectaries should be equipped with R & D
unit. Despite initial costs incurred in setting up this type of insectary, it is not only the
product itself that will produce the quality but also the cost of the final product will
be reduced. With this policy, the BCAs are produced according to the desired
standards and the BC will be cost-effective.
17.5 Role of Academia on the Development of BC
Irrespective of the greenhouse owners, currently the Iranian growers have restricted
management tactics. This reflects the scientific, administrative and economic development of the country being focused predominantly on chemical control. This
should be brought to the attention of government officials by biocontrol experts. In
this regard, Ashouri (2011) acknowledged that elites should make greater efforts to
convince decision-making centers to change their attitudes and minds. In many
countries, this has been well done. To achieve the goal of implementing BC plans,
there is a need for two- way interaction. Moreover, the elites are trying to convince
the statesmen, and on the other hand, the statesmen have put the both methods of
supporting research and the elites in the field of BC in their plans so that they can
reciprocally fulfill their mission. Soroush et al. (2011), also emphasized the role of
the academic elite in the development of BC plans. Currently, domestic mass
production companies are low-tech and require efficient and specialized production
technology and manpower. In general, the lack of sufficient technical knowledge in
the country, mass production of various BCAs and numerous producers of the agents
are among the most important parameters which required to use the scientific
potential of elites to improve mass-production and commercialization of BCAs.
Assigning and providing the necessary credits for research, creating a responsible
616
J. Karimi et al.
and the use of Trichogramma as an inundative agent on a large scale, but the second
one is the mass production of native agents like predatory mites and lacewings.
Therefore, the capacity of mass production, which lies in the private sector, should
be improved to modify the methods of mass rearing/production and the use of BCAs
in open fields, such as with Trichogramma. The country’s greenhouse area is about
15,000 hectares, while open field crops cover more than 14 million hectares (Ministry of Agriculture Statistics, 2018–2019). Of this amount, about 1,200,000 hectares
are allocated to seven main crops on which currently biocontrol plans are
implemented using Trichogramma. It is possible to cover the whole of this area
only by mass rearing of qualified Trichogramma species to the amount of more than
21 tons of Trichogramma. Therefore, if this agent is required in the country, it is
necessary to start large scale mass production of the wasp for wide range use.
Trichogramma have been mass-reared in the country, millions of areas are covered
by this wasp. Technical knowledge for mass production of single agent will always
be easier than producing several agents. The private sector should be encouraged to
invest in establishing modern insectaries, not the small and local ones, which come
from changing the old houses. Skilled insectaries should be equipped with R & D
unit. Despite initial costs incurred in setting up this type of insectary, it is not only the
product itself that will produce the quality but also the cost of the final product will
be reduced. With this policy, the BCAs are produced according to the desired
standards and the BC will be cost-effective.
17.5 Role of Academia on the Development of BC
Irrespective of the greenhouse owners, currently the Iranian growers have restricted
management tactics. This reflects the scientific, administrative and economic development of the country being focused predominantly on chemical control. This
should be brought to the attention of government officials by biocontrol experts. In
this regard, Ashouri (2011) acknowledged that elites should make greater efforts to
convince decision-making centers to change their attitudes and minds. In many
countries, this has been well done. To achieve the goal of implementing BC plans,
there is a need for two- way interaction. Moreover, the elites are trying to convince
the statesmen, and on the other hand, the statesmen have put the both methods of
supporting research and the elites in the field of BC in their plans so that they can
reciprocally fulfill their mission. Soroush et al. (2011), also emphasized the role of
the academic elite in the development of BC plans. Currently, domestic mass
production companies are low-tech and require efficient and specialized production
technology and manpower. In general, the lack of sufficient technical knowledge in
the country, mass production of various BCAs and numerous producers of the agents
are among the most important parameters which required to use the scientific
potential of elites to improve mass-production and commercialization of BCAs.
Assigning and providing the necessary credits for research, creating a responsible
616
J. Karimi et al.