The western corn rootworm, a new threat to European agriculture: opportunities for biotechnology? (original) (raw)
Related papers
Agricultural Systems, 2017
The spread of the Western Corn Rootworm (WCR; Diabrotica virgifera virgifera) challenges farmers in intensive maize production regions. We model efficient crop management strategies in response to economic damage potentials of the invasive WCR in Austria. A spatially explicit integrated modelling framework has been developed to calculate economic damage potentials from maize yield losses for a past (1975-2005) and a future (2010-2040) period with climate change. The economic damage potentials determine the choice of efficient crop management strategies considering insecticide applications, crop rotations with gradual maize limitations, fertilization intensities and irrigation. The integrated modelling framework includes the crop rotation model CropRota, the bio-physical process model EPIC, and the non-linear land use optimization model BiomAT. Typical crop rotations are simulated by CropRota at the municipality level. They are input to EPIC to simulate crop yields at the 1 km pixel resolution, which are part of the gross margin calculations entering BiomAT. Results of economic damage potentials with a 10% maize yield loss range between 3 €/ha and 180 €/ha, depending on the location, and increase to between 14 €/ha and 903 €/ha at 50% maize yield loss. The analysis of economic damage potentials shows a high regional variability. Moreover, the model results show that a decrease in maize shares combined with moderate fertilization levels is more efficient for WCR control than insecticide use. However, further crop management strategies have to be developed in order to reduce maize yield and economic losses.
Integrated modelling of measures to control the Western Corn Rootworm in Austria
Jahrbuch der österreichischen Gesellschaft für Agraökonomie, 2017
The Western Corn Rootworm (WCR) has become a major pest to maize in Austria in recent years. We model damage potentials of maize yield losses and crop management options for WCR control in Austria. The crop management options include maize restrictions in crop rotations as well as insecticide applications. Our integrated modelling framework sequentially links a crop rotation model, a bio-physical process model and a bottom-up land use optimization model and represents Austrian cropland at 1 km resolution. We identify several hot spots for high WCR damage potentials, which are related to regional maize yield levels and maize shares in crop rotations. The results show that the reduction of maize in crop rotations is more beneficial than insecticide applications in many agricultural production areas.
Journal of Economic Entomology, 2005
We studied management strategies for western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, using transgenic corn, Zea mays L., from both a biological and an economic perspective. In areas with and without populations adapted to a 2-yr rotation of corn and soybean (rotation-resistant), the standard management strategy was to plant 80% of a cornÞeld (rotated and continuous) to a transgenic cultivar each year. In each area, we also studied dynamic management strategies where the proportion of transgenic corn increased over time in a region. We also analyzed management strategies for a single Þeld that is the Þrst to adopt transgenic corn within a larger unmanaged region. In all areas, increasing the expression of the toxin in the plant increased economic returns. In areas without rotation-resistance, planting 80% transgenic corn in the continuous cornÞeld each year generated the greatest returns with a medium toxin dose or greater. In areas with alleles for rotation-resistance at low initial levels, a 2-yr rotation of nontransgenic corn and soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., may be the most economical strategy if resistance to crop rotation is recessive. If resistance to crop rotation is additive or dominant, planting transgenic corn in the rotated cornÞeld was the most effective strategy. In areas where rotation-resistance is already a severe problem, planting transgenic corn in the rotated cornÞeld each year was always the most economical strategy. In some cases the strategies that increased the proportion of transgenic corn in the region over time increased returns compared with the standard strategies. With these strategies the evolution of resistance to crop rotation occurred more rapidly but resistance to transgenic corn was delayed compared with the standard management strategy. In areas not managed by a regional norm, increasing the proportion of transgenic corn and increasing toxin dose in the managed Þeld generally increased returns. In a sensitivity analysis, among the parameters investigated, only density-dependent survival affected the results.
Agricultural Systems, 2011
Maize-based cropping systems (MBCSs), with different frequency of maize in the crop sequence, are common in European arable systems. Pesticide use differs according to the type of active ingredients and target organisms in different regions. Within the EU Network of Excellence ENDURE, two expert-based surveys were conducted focusing on four European study regions where experts were asked to identify MBCSs in their region, determine the current crop protection practices, propose advanced practices against major pests, weeds and diseases, and evaluate the potential agronomic, environmental, economic and social impact of innovative Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools on the sustainability of MBCSs. In the northern region (Denmark and The Netherlands), maize is mostly cultivated as non-irrigated continuous silage maize or rotated with grass, while in the central-eastern region the major systems are nonirrigated continuous grain maize (Tolna county, Hungary) or grain maize grown in rotation with winter wheat, oilseed rape and sunflower (Békés county, Hungary). In the south-western (Ebro Valley, Spain) and southern (Po Valley, Italy) regions, continuous and irrigated grain maize, as well as irrigated grain and silage maize/winter wheat rotations are prevalent. Differences in current and proposed advanced crop protection practices for MBCSs were identified between regions due to specific pest, weed and disease problems. The tolerant/resistant non-GM maize cultivars, early detection methods, pest and disease forecasting models, precision/patch spraying using GPS spray maps and the community-based decisions through information sharing were commonly recommended for innovative IPM implementation in all regions. Deviations in the recommendations between regions were mainly caused by differences in the evaluation of economic or social impact of some tools (i.e. innovative mechanical weeding). Applied multi-disciplinary research and farmer incentives to encourage the adoption of innovative IPM strategies are essential for sustainable MBCSs development in Europe. The introduction of innovative tools into IPM strategies can contribute significantly to addressing the EU's strategic commitment to the sustainable use of pesticides and, consequently, more environmentally sustainable MBCSs.
Maize Based Cropping Systems in Four European Regions: SWOT Analysis and IPM Considerations
Maize based cropping systems (MBCSs), with different shares of maize crop in the rotations, are dominant in European arable systems. Maize cultivation (either grain or green crop) itself covered an area of 14-15 million hectares in European Union Member States between 2007 and 2009. The pesticide load is different in types of active ingredients and target organisms depending on the region. These systems may involve other crops (for example, winter cereals, sunflower, soybean) and are infested by certain pests such as weeds (i.e. competitive species), aphids, soil insects, the quarantine pest western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, WCR), corn borers and pathogens such as Fusarium species. Mycotoxins potentially produced by phytopathogenic fungi have serious food and feed safety implications. New challenges (availability of resources, economic aspects, knowledge and training, etc.) should also be considered when implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The...
The impact of using GM insect resistant maize in Europe since 1998
International Journal of Biotechnology, 2008
Genetically Modified (GM) insect resistant (Bt) maize crops have been grown commercially in the European Union (EU) since 1998, and in 2006, there were plantings in seven EU member states. This paper reviews the specific economic impacts on yield and farm income as well as the environmental impact in respect of insecticide usage (where data exists). The analysis shows that there have been important yield and net economic benefits at the farm level equal to an improvement in profitability of between 12 and 21%. Where farmers have previously used insecticides to control pests, the technology has reduced insecticide spraying and as a result decreased the associated environmental impact. Bt maize has also delivered important improvements in grain quality through significant reductions in the levels of mycotoxins found in the grain.
Managing the Risk of European Corn Borer Resistance to Bt Corn
2002
A bioeconomic model is developed to evaluate the tradeoff between the risk of resistance and increased productivity when refuge is planted in conjunction with transgenic pesticidal corn. The model is used to evaluate controversial refuge recommendations when producers are allowed to treat refuge in years of high pest pressure.
Conceptualising the economics of plant health protection against invasive pests
Agricultural and food science in Finland, 2003
Threats to animal and plant health by invading organisms are increasing due to trade liberalisation and increased movement of goods and people. This paper conceptualises an economic approach to protecting plant health against invasive organisms, specifically addressing a multidisciplinary audience involved in plant health research and in governmental policy-making process. We discuss the conceptual framework and present some generally available management options. We also build a basic model dealing with pre-emptive and reactive control, followed by a numerical illustration to the case of Colorado potato beetle in Finland.