Projects / Programmes
Assessment of the state of pesticide resistance in Slovenia
| Code |
Science |
Field |
Subfield |
| 4.03.05 |
Biotechnical sciences |
Plant production |
Phytomedicine |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| B434 |
Biomedical sciences |
Agrochemistry |
| Code |
Science |
Field |
| 4.01 |
Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences |
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |
crop production, plant protection, pests, plant protection products (pesticides), pesticide resistance
Researchers (19)
Organisations (4)
Abstract
In recent years, the resistance of harmful organisms (HOs) to pesticides has become one of the main problems in crop production. Resistance has led to the increasing use of pesticides and thus has exacerbated the negative consequences for the environment, so it comes as no surprise that a great deal of attention is currently being dedicated to this issue around the world. In practice, resistance is typically demonstrated as the reduced effectiveness of a particular pesticide. Producers usually do not promptly recognise this phenomenon, instead attributing the reduced effectiveness of pesticides to dosage mistakes, the application of crop dusting, unfavourable weather conditions, inappropriate soil preparation, incorrect application time regarding the developmental stage of the HO, etc. Pesticide users consequently resort to increasing the dosage and to multiple applications of the same or similar pesticides, which accelerates resistance, is costly, and unnecessarily burdens the environment with pesticides. Few studies on this issue have been conducted in Slovenia, aside from infrequent verifications of the effectiveness of pesticides with regard to the specific HOs of some fruit, potato, and hop species, in addition to a study on the resistance of weed to triazine conducted more than 20 years ago. Due to the absence of data on the state of resistance of individual HOs to pesticides, Slovenian producers and expert services therefore lack effective information that would enable them to select the most appropriate pesticides. Consequently, producers do not have information that would be of use to them in carrying out plant protection measures that could significantly reduce pesticide use. Such measures would improve the economics of production while reducing the negative impacts of pesticides on the environment by decreasing pesticide use.
The principal aim of the project is to establish the state of resistance of selected HOs that are causing the greatest problems for Slovenian crop producers. The project will also involve verification of the resistance of selected species of weeds growing on non-agricultural land (road embankments, railroads, industrial areas, cemeteries, other serviced land), where a very limited selection of pesticides can be used. We have observed that despite the use of non-selective preparations, such areas harbour individual weed species that could spread to agricultural land. Based on the results, we will be able to more reliably confirm or reject the suspicion of resistance, which will form the basis for advice on the use of pesticides and the preparation of detailed instructions for the implementation of protection strategies that will prevent HO resistance. An anti-resistance strategy is a cornerstone of integrated pest management (IPM). As of 2014, Slovenia started implementing the General Principles of IPM from Annex III of Directive 2009/128/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework of Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides. The Directive stipulates that member states must establish IPM systems and adopt national action plans (NAP) for the sustainable use of pesticides. One of the aims of the NAP is to reduce pesticide use and to use pesticides on a scientifically sound basis that involves correct selection of pesticides and improved technological procedures for crop production. The results of this project will make it possible to use pesticides more economically; in cases where resistance is established and there is a lack of appropriate pesticides, we will have the scientific basis to propose solutions such as the registration of additional pesticides with different effects on HOs. Consequently, plant protection and agricultural production will be economically efficient and environmentally friendly, which are among the main objectives of the Agricultural Development Strategy 2020.
Significance for science
Due to a great economic and environmental importance of pesticide resistance this topic is very important worldwide. The three below-mentioned websites (www.frac.info; www.irac-online.org, www.hracglobal.com) are giving the thorough information on global issues and dynamics of the emergence of resistance in individual pests in different parts of the world. Slovenia has not contributed to this database with our own data very much so far, never the less we have regularly checked and monitored all the information available in this database to be able to prepare and implement efficient plant protection measures and to prevent the pesticide resistance. The most important contribution to the science in the context of the proposed project would be firstly to analyse the situation in this area for Slovenia and secondly to complement regional and global databases on the types of pest-resistant and active substances for which they have developed resistance. This data are very important for the further study of pest resistance as well as for the preparation of the anti resistant strategies on a global as well as on the local level.
Development of resistance is due to a number of factors in each local area-specific, despite the fact that in theory, same factors are under the scrutiny (eg. the frequency of the use of active substances, the number of generations annually, the overall diversity of non-chemical oppressive methods, a way of combining active substances, the extent of movement and crossing populations in the area, the relationship between agricultural and non-agricultural land, ...). Slovenia is, given the intensity of farming, quite diverse since it combines intensive production areas with increased intake of PPP and on the other hand a fairly extensive areas with a very low intake of pesticides. This allows a large volume of interbreeding between populations that are exposed to the high pressure of the PPP and those that are not. This fact helps to mitigate the speed of emergence of resistance in Slovenia, but from the scientific standpoint the extent is not known. The practical system can verify some alternative models for predicting the phenomena of resistance in a variety of pests. The project would develop their own models and further training for assessing the phenomena of resistance and to assess how the relationship between areas with different production methods through population dynamics are influencing the emergence of resistance. With our research we will contribute to the development of scientific methods for assessing the speed of the development of resistance to the level of the national economy as a whole. The project will try to demonstrate that the impact of the same factors on the development of resistance in weeds, insects or fungi in different environments are quite different. Based on that there is a need for a variety of specifically tailored to various preventive approaches to prevent the occurrence of the resistance.
Significance for the country
The results of the proposed project will have the greatest impact on the economy and producers. Based on the results of the project we will, through various measures of education, counseling, awareness and information producers as well as other relevant target groups (eg. Agricultural advisory service, dealers and advisers in the field of PPP), which participate in the food production systems, care of, as effectively as possible, the general principles of the anti resistant strategy as well as to implement concrete measures for the production of various crops to prevent the occurrence of pest resistance to pesticides. It is known that it can largely affect the quantity and quality of the harvest, therefore, we will constitute plant protection measures as one of the most common technological measures for majority of agricultural crops. As such, these measures represent an important factor in the economics of production. If we are dealing with degraded performance of PPP as a result of the development of pest resistance to pesticides, we are observing lower quality as well as the yield quantity, which in turn can have a significant adverse economic impact on growers. With the emergence of resistance the cost of suppressing the pests significantly increases and parity share of these in the total cost of the crop production. In addition, the economic result is worse due to the increased losses and poorer crop quality. Indirect negative effects can also be manifested in the increased number and concentrations of residues of active substances, pesticides in crops, which may have a negative effect in terms of marketing quality, which in turn can contribute to reductions in crop prices. In this way, we should not forget the increased burden on the environment and non-target organisms, all of which lead to increased use of pesticides due to the emergence of resistance.
Most important scientific results
Final report
Most important socioeconomically and culturally relevant results
Annual report
2018,
final report
