aphids and powdery mildew on crop destroy 60% of crop outputs

Case I

Aphids and powdery mildew were constant issues at a large greenhouse complex. Crop loss was as high as 60% over a period of eight months. The quality of the product dropped. The introduction of all six components of an Integrated Pest Management program reduced the disease and insect pressure within four months and the facility was completely cleaned within six months. The economic benefit was estimated at $10M.

Case II

Climate control at an indoor cultivation facility prevented soft fruit cultivars from reaching their genetic yield potential. Our optimization of the climate parameters, including light intensity and duration, resulted in yield increased over 20%. Simultaneously, alternating humidification and dehumidification regimes reduced infestation of spider mites, promoted calcium uptake, and reduced the spread of powdery mildew. This approach resulted in lower pesticides being used.

Case III

Currently PMRA does not allow use of pesticides in vertical horticulture, so we developed a new Pest Management program. Our program included organic and biological control tools among other measures. Implementation of our program allowed for effective control of diseases and insects, eliminating the use of pesticides. The program is fully compliant with federal and provincial PMRA regulations in Canada.