Biobest keeps on innovating

“We see a tendency towards biological solutions for both covered and open crops” says Biobest’s R&D director Felix Wäckers. “Solutions for open crops need a different approach and other tools to be able to cope. It is a challenge to keep the biological products in the crop.” One way of boosting the predatory mites is to apply a food supplement. Biobest, pioneering in biological pollination and pest control, recently introduced Nutrimite for ornamental crops – constituting a breakthrough in biological solutions for roses – and it has potential for other crops. Another Biobest innovation is the Dyna-Mite. Felix Wäckers: “It’s a mite that is very dynamic and mobile in the crop. It can rapidly develop a population to combat thrips, white fly or red spider.” This product also has potential for application in open fields or orchards.  Biobest, active in biological solutions for over 25 years, states that the ‘flying doctors’ concept they introduced last year is very successful. Felix Wäckers: “New researchers are appointed to do more research into the use of microbiological products for both covered crops and open field production. Induced resistance is another field in which Biobest sees possibilities. Felix Wäckers: “It is a way to enhance the plant’s potential to defend itself. A treatment is applied to switch on the resistance and prevent diseases from happening.”