As aphid pressure continues to build in leafy crops such as lettuce and brassicas, IBMA España is calling for a stronger focus on biological control strategies within integrated pest management programs.
The association acknowledges growing concern across the sector, particularly in light of the withdrawal of key active substances. One example is spirotetramat, phased out under Regulation (EU) 2022/489, a move that had been anticipated but is now clearly impacting growers' available tools.
According to IBMA España, this situation underlines the need to accelerate the transition towards more sustainable pest control approaches, making greater use of biological solutions that are already commercially available.
Biocontrol tools gaining ground
A range of biocontrol options is currently available for aphid management in open field and protected crops. These can broadly be divided into four categories: natural substances, semiochemicals, macroorganisms and microorganisms.
Among beneficial insects, parasitoids from the Aphidius genus play a central role, alongside predators such as Aphidoletes aphidimyza. Hoverflies including Sphaerophoria rueppellii and Episyrphus balteatus, as well as lacewings like Chrysoperla carnea, are also widely used, with larvae that actively feed on aphids.
Effectiveness depends largely on timing. Preventive releases, often before pest populations are detected, are key to establishing stable beneficial populations. In this context, the use of reservoir plants can support early establishment by providing shelter and alternative food sources.
In parallel, natural substances such as pyrethrins, azadirachtin and rapeseed oil remain part of the toolkit, alongside microbial solutions like Beauveria bassiana, which targets a range of insect pests.
Integrated approach remains essential
IBMA stresses that the most effective strategy remains integrated pest management, combining biological, agronomic and, where necessary, compatible chemical solutions.
Within this framework, biocontrol plays a central role. It reduces reliance on synthetic inputs, helps prevent resistance development and supports more sustainable production systems. Many biological solutions also offer the advantage of leaving no residues and requiring no pre harvest intervals, easing their adoption across different production models.
Regulation still a bottleneck
Despite growing availability, regulatory hurdles continue to limit the speed at which new solutions reach the market. The current framework under Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009, originally designed for chemical pesticides, is still applied to many biological products.
This results in lengthy and complex approval processes that can delay innovation for years.
In this context, the proposed EU simplification package, often referred to as the Omnibus initiative, is seen as a potential turning point. By streamlining administrative procedures without compromising safety standards, it could accelerate access to biocontrol tools for European growers.
As aphid pressure intensifies and available chemical options narrow, the sector increasingly sees biological solutions not as an alternative, but as a necessary pillar of future crop protection strategies.
For more information:
IBMA
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https:// ibmaspain.es
