The Future of Pest Control Scottish Society for Crop Research. Jon Knight HDC Head of Research 22 nd May 2013

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1 The Future of Pest Control Scottish Society for Crop Research Jon Knight HDC Head of Research 22 nd May 2013

2 A bit about HDC What are the problems with current plant protection products? Drivers for change HDC activity and possible future methods for pest management

3 HDC: clients & resources 2% 15% 7% 9% 9% 4% Protected Ornamentals Hardy Nursery Stock Bulbs & Outdoor Flowers Field Vegetables Soft Fruit Protected Edibles 18% 36% Tree Fruit Mushrooms Total income approx million in 2012/ million (94%) of this is levy ~ 5 million spend on R&D

4 Strategy development Cleaning/drying Cooling/storage Packing/distribution Supply chains Markets Consumers Postharvest Cropping systems Genetics Optimisation Additionality Impact Crop improvement Novel crops Genomics/biotechnology Soil & substrates Inputs Soil fertility & health Manufactured media Energy Labour Nutrition Water Engineering Precision tools Production systems Crop protection Diseases Pests Weeds

5 Key Priority Themes Crop Genetics Aid technical development of crop species/varieties suited to UK conditions Soils & substrates Increase understanding of soil health & fertility; support responsibly-sourced growing media Crop Inputs (resource use efficiency) Make effective use of energy, nutrients, water etc Crop Protection Develop innovative IPM systems for horticultural crops Crop Production Systems Help develop precision tools to create more efficient production systems Crop Value Help develop more efficient post-harvest storage and processing systems Cross-cutting issues Improve the translation of science into practice

6 Strategy implementation process Evaluate needs & devise strategy Review strategy Review past research Evaluate uptake, impact & value Manage & deliver all resulting research, knowledge transfer and communications activities Knowledge exchange with industry Scope new technology & approaches Specify options for development Commission R&D Assess impact, barriers, risks & value Seek co-funding Plan initiatives Define aims, objectives & priorities

7 Phase 1 Priorities (funded via HDC Board) Crop Protection Development of IPM systems, diagnostic tests & precision management tools (working with others in AHDB as appropriate) Precision tools Making best use of new technology to create efficiency Soil, nutrient & water management Improve management practices (working with others in AHDB as appropriate) Capacity building Work with other AHDB sectors in training & education activities

8 Strategic + Tactical = Balance Strategic procurement by the HDC Board Tactical procurement by Sector Panels

9 Published strategy Full document available at

10 Drivers for change Regulation Registration of plant protection products 91/414/EEC (1993) European Union Thematic Strategy on Pesticides 1. Plant Protection Products Regulation 1107/2009 (2009) Switch from Risk to Hazard i.e. intrinsic qualities of substance Endocrine disruptors (Dec 2013) 2. Sustainable Use Directive (SUD) 2009/128/EC 3. Machinery Directive 2009/127/EC which sets out standards for new equipment 4. Statistics Regulation 1185/ annual sales data and data every five years on usage on crops and pesticide used

11 more regulation Maximum Residue Level Regulation 396/2005 Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC Drinking Water Directive (precautionary principle)

12 Drivers for change Pesticide Resistance Cost of development/size of market (Minor uses) Emergence of new pests (spotted wing drosophila) Biocontrol failure e.g. hyperparasitoids Sustainable intensification Public opinion?? Drosophila suzukii. Asaphes suspensus.

13 The Challenge Specific - Narrow spectrum of action Benign - Low probability of environmental impact Safe - General lack of significant adverse impacts on human health

14 Options Chemical Biological controls Microbial pesticides Pest behaviour modifiers Genetic manipulation of pest populations Plant immunization Plant breeding Physical, mechanical and cultural controls

15 Chemical Extension of Authorisation for Minor Use (EAMU) SCEPTRE both conventional and biologically derived products for produce Expanded programme for produce and ornamentals ~ 2 million per annum

16 Biological based controls Biological control CP 061 PhD Cross Crop benefits: Developing crop combinations to promote conservation biological pest control PE 006(a) Protected herbs: improved biological control of aphids

17 Biological based controls PC 295b - Sweet pepper: Further development of IPM solutions for aphid infestations Proportion of primary parasitoids to hyperparasitoids at Site 1.

18 Microbial pesticides PE Protected edible crops: biological control of plant diseases using insect pathogenic fungi with dual activity against plant pathogens in progress Activity of microbial controls for mildew for the incidental control of insects

19 Microbial CP 082 (PhD) Discovery and development of new phylloplane biocontrol agents to control insect pests %of aphids alive % of aphids alive after 24 hours % of aphids alive after 48 hours % of aphids alive after 72 hours Bacteria

20 Pest behaviour modifiers Pheromones, attractants etc. CP14 (PhD) Raspberry: Novel approach for ICM in fresh and processed crops PC/SF 276 Pheromone technology for management of capsid pests to reduce pesticide use in horticultural crops

21 Plant immunization - Elicitors Plant Defence Defences that are always present Defences induced only when plant attacked Local, few cells Volatiles Attract helpers Throughout the whole plant Systemic induced defence

22 Elicitors Attack generates cues (elicitors) that the plant recognises at biochemical level Insect saliva, cell wall fragments etc. Non-pathogenic microbes, chitosan, UV-C Recognition triggers plant defence signals Salicylic acid many diseases Jasmonic acid most pests and some pathogens Signal triggers defence responses Local, systemic, volatiles (predators, parasitoids)

23 Plant immunization - Elicitors Commercialisation of early work as foliar applications HDC supporting many projects supported (>10) Seed Treatment appears to prime the plant ready for defence against pest/disease Commercialisation of early work on JA through Becker Underwood (royalty to HDC)

24 Genetic manipulation of pest populations SIT Autocidal approach Population suppression Radiation female killing translocation Genetic Modification RIDL Release of Insects carrying Dominant Lethal Wolbachia Population replacement Wolbachia Genetic Modification - Gene drive technology

25 SIT approach Insecticidal strategies Insecticidal Treatment Mosquito Density Autocidal approaches Mosquito Density Mosquito Density Time Insecticidal Treatment Incompatible Male Releases Time Ti m e

26 RIDL: fail-safe / replacing radiation RIDL insects are genetically sterile Repressible Release homozygous males Bi-sex lethal X Female-specific lethal X Introgression of genes through male line

27 SIT Radiation sterility widely used for Medfly (and other fruit flies), screw worm, and tsetse. Factories producing up to 4 billion flies per week Cost effective return on investment CP 053 (PhD) The use of SIT to increase success of IPM in horticultural crops

28 Wolbachia Can be used to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility Estimated to be in majority of insects (different species of Wolbachia) Microinjection of Wolbachia into host Different Wolbachia species can cuase cytoplasmic incompatibility leading to death, shorter lifespan etc. Used for mosquitoes in Australia Not GM, native organisms can be used

29 Other approaches RNAi (interference) (review Gu & Knipple 2012) Ingestion of synthesised species specific dsrna (E-subunit of vatpase gene) T. castaneum, A. pisum, and M.sexta 50% 75% mortality for all three insects Whyard et al (2009)

30 Neuropeptides Phytotoxic compounds Phloxine B on whitefly (Kim, Je & Choi, 2010) Fusion proteins (Fitches et al,2004) How to deliver to insects?

31 Other approaches Plant breeding Conventional and GM Wheat Improvement Strategic Programme ( Ancestral gene introgression Physical, mechanical and cultural controls Controlling light spectra LEDs and films (elicitor response?)

32 What is the future? IPM Use what we have better and smarter Biotechnology Marker assisted selection for resistance Better understanding of plant defences GM of plants and insects You tell me!

33 Thank you Acknowledgements John Clarkson/Dave Chandler Amanda Livermore/Rob Jackson Jude Bennison Rob Jacobsen Nick Birch Luke Alphey Georgina Keys/Andy Wilby All HDC contractors and others.