The EU emphasizes the role of integrated pest management, which is an important tool to reduce reliance on the use of pesticides. Before pesticides are used, biological control measures, along with physical and other non-chemical methods, should take precedence (Directive 2009/128/CE).
The EU is stimulating the development of biological control products by funding this BIOCOMES project.
BIOCOMES bets on biological control manufacturers in Europe to develop novel biological control products to support the application of integrated pest and disease management in agriculture and forestry. Biological control manufacturers in Europe develop novel biological control products to support the application of Integrated Pest Management in agriculture and forestry
In the context of this project, 11 new biological control agents (BCA) and 2 production technologies have been developed.