PRUNUS FITO: Assessment of the impact of some enemies (pests and diseases) on prune crops in the Cova da Beira region and evaluation of the effectiveness of different control methods in controlling them

Coordinator

Gonçalo Batista e Francisco Chasqueira (Appizêzere)

CESAM Responsible researcher

Maria Teresa Ferreira Ramos Nabais de Oliveira Rebelo

Programme

Programa Desenvolvimento Rural 2014-2020 (PDR 2020)

Dates

01/09/2016 - 30/06/2022

Total Funding

446000 €

Funding Entity

Programa Desenvolvimento Rural 2014-2020 (PDR 2020)

Proponent Institution

Appizêzere – Associação de Protecção Integrada e Agricultura Sustentável do Zêzere

The importance of biodiversity for ecosystem functioning has been a central focus of discussion, since the growth of intensive agriculture. In recent years, this practice has caused an erosion of functional biodiversity, resulting in a decrease in the arthropod fauna activity and the destruction of habitats (food resources and hibernation sites) critical to species survival. It is known that, given the climate, economic and environmental changes, production systems will have greater dependence on ecological processes, gaining importance to prevailing functional biodiversity on farms. Two of crops with utmost importance in Beira and Alentejo provinces are the olive groves and vineyards. Due to intensive farming methods and the continuous areas in which they are implemented, these crops consume large amounts of chemicals to control pests and diseases, which can affect the quality of final products, wine and olive oil. On the other hand, presently, more than ever, there is pressure from consumers / markets for more sustainable practices, with greater relevance to the reduction of pesticide treatments. In this context, it seems important to implement specific functional biodiversity action plans that incorporate strategies to increase the biological wealth of farms, namely the identification and installation of green infrastructures to promote population growth of the auxiliary fauna, giving the culture a greater resilience and flexibility to adapt to global changes. Apart from the environmental point of view, there is also a business opportunity for companies to adopt sustainability as a strategy, as there is a gradual increase in demand for certified products in organic production or even in integrated production. Basically, the application of measures designed to increase the functional biodiversity is the assignment of a value added to the wine and olive oil from a commercial point of view.