Chapter 4
Biosystems Engineering Applied
to Greenhouse Pest Control
Enric Vila and Tomas Cabello
Abstract The recent development and adoption of IPM programs in the southeast
of Spain, where the largest concentration of protected crops of the world has
developed, excluding China, has become a reference model for other areas,
specially with Mediterranean climatic conditions. At least four key driving forces
have been involved, strong regulatory framework, subsidies to the growers,
extension of knowledge, and Research and Innovation. The last has motivated a
drastic change in the mind-set of growers since they recognize biocontrol as the best
pest management after selection and development of suitable species and efficient
biocontrol programs, which are mainly based on augmentative releases of commercially mass-reared populations. The quality and price of the beneficials, which
has deserved less attention when analyzing the failure or success of biocontrol, has
contributed significantly to this achievement. Biosystems engineering progress to
mass rear the key species of insects and mites currently used in these augmentative
programs are reviewed. Specifically, attention is paid to the predatory mites Phytoseidae and some species of the families Miridae and Anthocoridae, as well as
some parasitoids. Changes in the productions and formulation of new release
systems, such as sachets à la carte that have increased the affordable quantities of
individuals, are discussed. Finally, trends and challenges on complementary and
artificial diets, as well as automatisms, which may decrease production costs and
open new opportunities for open field crops, are explored.
Contents
4.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 100
4.2 Chemical Era Decline in the Horticultural Protected Crops ........................................ 101
E. Vila Á T. Cabello (&)
Center for Agribusiness Biotechnology Research, University of Almeria,
Almeria, Spain
e-mail: tcabello@ual.es
R. Guevara-Gonzalez and I. Torres-Pacheco (eds.), Biosystems Engineering:
Biofactories for Food Production in the Century XXI, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-03880-3_4,
Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
99
Biosystems Engineering Applied
to Greenhouse Pest Control
Enric Vila and Tomas Cabello
Abstract The recent development and adoption of IPM programs in the southeast
of Spain, where the largest concentration of protected crops of the world has
developed, excluding China, has become a reference model for other areas,
specially with Mediterranean climatic conditions. At least four key driving forces
have been involved, strong regulatory framework, subsidies to the growers,
extension of knowledge, and Research and Innovation. The last has motivated a
drastic change in the mind-set of growers since they recognize biocontrol as the best
pest management after selection and development of suitable species and efficient
biocontrol programs, which are mainly based on augmentative releases of commercially mass-reared populations. The quality and price of the beneficials, which
has deserved less attention when analyzing the failure or success of biocontrol, has
contributed significantly to this achievement. Biosystems engineering progress to
mass rear the key species of insects and mites currently used in these augmentative
programs are reviewed. Specifically, attention is paid to the predatory mites Phytoseidae and some species of the families Miridae and Anthocoridae, as well as
some parasitoids. Changes in the productions and formulation of new release
systems, such as sachets à la carte that have increased the affordable quantities of
individuals, are discussed. Finally, trends and challenges on complementary and
artificial diets, as well as automatisms, which may decrease production costs and
open new opportunities for open field crops, are explored.
Contents
4.1 Introduction..................................................................................................................... 100
4.2 Chemical Era Decline in the Horticultural Protected Crops ........................................ 101
E. Vila Á T. Cabello (&)
Center for Agribusiness Biotechnology Research, University of Almeria,
Almeria, Spain
e-mail: tcabello@ual.es
R. Guevara-Gonzalez and I. Torres-Pacheco (eds.), Biosystems Engineering:
Biofactories for Food Production in the Century XXI, DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-03880-3_4,
Ó Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2014
99