The Importance of Pheromones for Sustainable Agriculture

Date:03-11-2025

Challenges and Innovations in EU Agriculture

Farmers across the European Union are at the forefront of a dynamic and ever-evolving agricultural landscape. Each year, they face a new set of challenges, from fluctuating yields and pest pressures to unpredictable weather and volatile market prices. Amidst these hurdles, a wave of innovative tools and technologies is emerging, promising to transform the way farmers produce food sustainably and profitably. One of the most pressing issues today is the stringent regulatory environment that is impacting the number of available solutions. Managing pest pressure with fewer solutions and without alternating actives with different mode of action can significantly contribute to resistance development. Therefore, it's becoming increasingly challenging. To tackle these issues and ensure high yields and premium quality, growers need new tools in their portfolio. These constraints have sparked a surge in the development of alternative pest control technologies, such as pheromones, that help maintain productivity while complying with evolving regulations.

In this context, alternative pest control strategies are gaining importance. Pheromone-based solutions offer a sustainable approach to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), that is aligned with regulatory trends and emphasize sustainability. This practice has been successfully implemented in various crops and is expected to see wider adoption in the future.

The Role of Pheromones in Sustainable Pest Management

Pheromone-based solutions, particularly mating disruption, provide an excellent alternative to conventional crop protection products. Pheromones selectively disrupt pest cycle, ensuring long-term efficacy, with a very good selectivity to beneficials. When these technologies are integrated with the existing practices, pheromones enhance the overall efficacy of pest management programs, ensuring better outcomes for growers.

ASCENZA and Selectis: On the Right Path to Innovative Agriculture

In a bold move, ASCENZA and Selectis are set to revolutionize pest management for olive and lemon growers in southern Europe with its new pheromone-based solution. This new pheromone-based product promises to empower pioneering farmers by providing an effective and sustainable way to control Prays species. With just a single installation of the mating disruption pheromone system during the cultivation period, growers can achieve excellent level of pest control. This highly selective system seamlessly integrates into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, ensuring optimal results and peace of mind for farmers. Prays oleae (olive moth) and Prays citri (citrus flower moth) are significant pests impacting agricultural yield and quality. Prays oleae targets olive trees, causing flower depletion and fruit drop, with damage rates ranging from 2-5% in flowers to 0.8-5% in fruits. Prays citri primarily affects citrus crops, causing damage to flowers, buds, and fruits, leading to yield losses of up to 30-40% in severe infestations. Both pests lead to reduced fruit quality and economic losses for farmers.

By adopting innovative technologies like pheromone-based solutions, growers can maintain consistent production levels, protect their crops from damage, and adapt to changing circumstances. This solution is essential for long-term sustainability, economic viability, and food security. Sustainable pest management practices will enable farmers to meet rising global demand while maintaining environmental and economic sustainability.

This new pheromone product is coming from a partnership between ASCENZA/Selectis and AoMidori Biocontrol.

Victor Notivol, General Manager, of AoMidori Biocontrol, declares that ″We are excited to announce our strategic partnership with ASCENZA/Selectis. This collaboration will leverage our combined strengths to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and deliver exceptional value to olive and citrus growers. Together, we are committed to achieving new milestones and setting industry standards.″

Rui Correia, Central Marketing Director for Crop Protection at Rovensa group expresses his strong confidence in the product's ability to bring significant benefits to farmers. ″This pheromone-based solution offers a sustainable approach to pest management, ensuring long-term efficacy and selectivity to beneficials. Designed to revolutionize agricultural practices, it has been proven to deliver outstanding results with just a single application at the beginning of the season, offering a peace of mind to the farmers.″