Crop Protection
- Innovation
Solutions for Effective Insect Control in Agriculture
Insects play a crucial role in agricultural ecosystems worldwide. Although they are small, insects have a big impact on the environments around them. From pollinators helping to enable our food system to harmful insects that threaten food security and safety, insects are a part of life. For farmers, successfully managing insect life on their farms is all about finding solutions to combat or deter those pests that can destroy crops while at the same time supporting beneficial insects like bees and other pollinators. This balance can be achieved through Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests and their damage through a combination of techniques such as regular crop scouting, crop rotation, biological control, targeted chemical control, habitat management, and the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and resistant crop varieties.
Crop Protection Tools for Targeted Insect Control
In modern agriculture, farmers face the dual challenge of achieving high yields while protecting the environment and their livelihoods. To effectively combat harmful insects, a broad portfolio of insecticides is essential. These products can be tailored to target specific species or offer broad-spectrum solutions against various pests.
A standout example of an innovative solution in insect control is Plenexos®, a next-generation ketoenol insecticide developed by Bayer. Plenexos® is designed to address the complex challenges of agriculture.
Plenexos® features a unique mode of action: it is a free ketoenol that becomes immediately active upon entering the plant. This property allows for high leaf uptake and efficient control of sucking pests such as aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Because Plenexos® protects both existing plants and new growth, it is designed to support a simplified application schedule.
Moreover, Plenexos® meets the highest standards for safety. It has been developed and tested in line with regulatory toxicological requirements, and its mode of action is designed to limit contact with non-target insects.
By combining chemical insect control with digital tools and field data, Plenexos® is designed to enable precise application of insecticide where and when it is needed.
With Plenexos®, farmers have a new tool to manage sucking pest pressure in their fields.
Biotechnology and GMOs
Protecting Crops from Insect Damage with Genetic Innovation
Another approach to insect management focuses on protecting crops from within by enhancing their genetic traits - often eliminating the need for topical insecticides and providing more precise control for deterring only targeted insects. To protect the harvest potential of plants and decrease insecticide use, insect-resistant traits in genetically modified plants using Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a naturally occurring soil bacterium, were developed.
Crops with Bt traits have been modified to produce certain proteins that are toxic to various forms of insect larvae. Bt proteins have long been used as topical sprays in conventional and organic agriculture because they are effective and can be used safely. Crops that are genetically engineered to carry a Bt trait allow farmers to protect their crops while potentially eliminating or significantly decreasing the amount of insecticides sprayed. This also means that typically only insects feeding on the crops are affected, helping to limit impact on other insects in the surrounding environment.
Leveraging Refuge Areas
Strategic Refuge Planting to Prevent Insect Resistance
Another practice available for farmers involves creating refuge areas. Refuge areas are designated portions of a field where plants that insects find appetizing are planted giving them a safe place to eat their fill while leaving the farmers’ crops alone. Digital farming technologies and data analytics enable farmers to strategically place refuge areas in and around fields based on insect behaviour, travel distance, and land suitability for crop growth.
Biodiversity and Pollinators
Pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies, and flies play an important role in the cultivation of many crops, especially fruits, vegetables and nuts.
Bayer recognizes the critical role pollinators play for agriculture and the environment. To ensure pollinators have the foraging grounds necessary for survival, we work with farmers to set best practices like creating buffer and refuge areas and planting pollinator-attractant plants.
Integrated pest management combined with advanced agricultural technologies gives farmers additional tools to manage land use decisions.