FiBL Collaboration

Insect decline is a global issue that affects both agricultural and urban areas, posing detrimental consequences for the environment and, therefore, for humanity as a whole. FiBL is testing whether flowering plants can be used to increase the abundance and diversity of beneficial insects in agricultural and urban settings.

Habitat loss and the widespread use of pesticides in conventional farming contribute to the global decline of insect abundance and diversity. This decline affects not only harmful insects but also beneficial ones, including pollinators and natural enemies that control agricultural pests. As a result, there are negative impacts on ecosystem services and farmers' income. FiBL is developing solutions to reverse this trend. 

Do flowering plants have the potential to promote beneficial insects in agricultural fields and home gardens? Absolutely! Flowering plants provide habitat and food sources to beneficial insects, making them an effective tool for indirect insect pest management. By incorporating flowering plants into agricultural landscapes and home gardens, reliance on pesticides and other direct control strategies can be reduced. In this episode, Paola Cassiano presents two research projects that test the impact of flowering plants in sustaining beneficial insects.

Paola is currently working as an intern in the FiBL group of Entomology and Agroecology as part of her MSc program at Wageningen University. In the past five years, she has been working as a freelancer specialised in sustainable agriculture and science communication. She also co-created an Italian podcast about agricultural sciences, called agRicerca.

The podcast team is happy to receive your feedback and suggestions via podcast(at)fibl.org.

Guest: Paola Cassiano (FiBL Switzerland)

Moderation and editorial work: Sophie Thanner (FiBL Switzerland)

Further information:

• Project:  Alternative methods of regulation of the Colorado potato beetle
• Project: Development of a range of organic vegetables and ornamentals with heirloom varieties
• Italian podcast about agricultural sciences: agRicerca

Guests

Michael Friedli (FiBL), Eligio Malusa (Inhort),  Claude-Eric Parveaud (Grab)

 Index

 00:00  Introduction

 00:48  Why is tree row management important

 02:15  What are living mulches 

 03:43  Functions of living mulches 

 05:32 White clover as nitrogen source

 08:40 Living mulches in apple orchards 

 12:30 Ecoservices and economic impact of living mulches 

 14:16  Plant protection of living mulches

 15:25  Remedy of pollutants in soil by living mulches

 16:27 Tipps on how to grow living mulches

 18:11 Tools for mechanical treatments of the tree rows 

 25:39 Advantage of mechanical treatments

  27:26  Advantages of living mulches

 28:00 Success story: vineyard and wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca) 

 31:03  Success stories from the south of France: Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), Oxeye daisy / Marguerite (Leucanthemum vulgare), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), Sheep fescue (Festuca ovina)

 37:00  Mixtures of species used for flower strips as living mulches

 40:11 Success story: (Phuopsis stylosa)

 41:04  Challenge of using living mulches: voles (Microtus)

 43:20  Direct plant protection and living mulches  

 45:19  Last words on benefits and challenges of living mulches 

Further information:

• Project webite BioFruitNet
• Practice_Abstracts of the project BioFruitNet
• Videos of the project BioFruitNet
• BioFruitNet on the Project_database of FiBL
• Brochure Core organic project DOMINO: Dynamic sod mulching and use of recycled amendments to increase biodiversity, resilience and sustainability of intensive organic fruit orchards and vineyards ((http://www.domino-coreorganic.eu/downloads/publications-from-the-project))