• Sustainable cultivation goes much further than pests and natural enemies

  18 December 2018

  Natutec Airobug The role of technology in biological control is set to grow even further; that's the prediction of Peter Maes, Koppert's director of Corporate Marketing. The latest techniques and technology are growing in importance in response to Koppert's broaderfield of work. ‘If we can get to know and understand the plant better, we can also help it better.’ For decades, agricultural producers have not had to think about the sustainability

• Expanded board to strengthen development at Koppert Biological Systems

  18 December 2018

  BERKEL EN RODENRIJS, THE NETHERLANDS – Koppert Biological Systems has increased the size of its board in response to the projected growth of the Dutch family company. Koppert is a global specialist in biological crop protection . The new composition allows for more focus on specific areas of operation. The original board that includes CEOs Paul Koppert and Henri Oosthoek, and CFO Robert Pathuis, has grown to include Peter Maes to be Director Corporate

• ‘Knowing & recognising’ now available in 4 languages

  18 December 2018

  The comprehensive, new edition of ‘Knowing & recognising’ – Koppert Biological Systems’ revised and updated reference book on pests, disease and their biological solutions – has been translated into Dutch, French and Spanish. The English version was launched in October last year. ‘The success of the English version underlined the urgent need to have the information available for other horticultural and agricultural regions of the world,’ says

• Modified formulation for Macro-Mite

  18 December 2018

  Macro-Mite Macrocheles robustulus Koppert Biological Systems has developed a new formulation for Macro-Mite , which boosts the vitality of the Macrocheles robustulus predatory mite. Macro-Mite is an effective natural enemy for the control of soil-dwelling pests, like eggs, larvae and pupae of sciarid flies , thrips pupae, and Lyprauta larvae. Modified formulation After extensive research and testing, Koppert will be replacing the carrier material

• Pollination under artificial lights

  18 December 2018

  With daylight hours shortening and temperatures beginning to drop, growers in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere are paying special attention to their growing lights. High time to focus on the effects this can have on the pollinators doing their job in your greenhouse! Koppert Biological Systems has just brought out a useful manual and informative poster that feature its best practices with regard to pollination under artificially lit

• Koppert and CABI collaborate on making more biological controls available

  18 December 2018

  This follows the success of earlier collaboration in Kenya in March this year in which CABI and the Koppert Foundation stepped up their efforts to combat pests which threaten the food security and livelihoods of thousands of farmers and their families. Under the new agreement, more training is also envisaged for Plantwise* ‘plant doctors’ who give advice on integrated pest management to local farmers. Other key areas of intended collaboration

• Koppert collaborates with Valto to control harmful tomato virus

  18 December 2018

  Convinced that cooperation and sharing knowledge are key to promoting natural crop protection , leading biological solutions producer, Koppert Biological Systems, is cooperating with Valto to ensure that this Dutch producer of beneficial crop viruses has access to tomato growers around the world. The two innovative biological solutions producers are located in the heart of the Dutch fruit and vegetable growing region and closely linked when it comes

• Ahold Delhaize: ‘We can't sell anything without substantiated information’

  18 December 2018

  According to representatives from Ahold Delhaize and Albert Heijn, ornamental plant growers across the world need to provide more transparency about their products and the way in which they are cultivated. Doing so will only strengthen their position as suppliers to supermarket chains. ‘Continuous improvement is only possible if the relationship between the producer and the buyer is clearly defined.’ Leon Mol is the director of product safety and

• European biocontrol industry proposes new EU regulatory framework

  18 December 2018

  The International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) recently published its vision on how to improve regulation for the biocontrol industry in a White Paper that it has presented to the European Union. It proposes a new EU regulatory framework for bioprotection agents. IBMA’s Executive Director, David Carry says bioprotection technologies that provide effective and innovative plant protection for modern agriculture are a vital tool in the EU

• Following Swirski, Spical undergoes revolutionary upgrade

  14 December 2018

  Swirski Ulti-Mite Thrips & Whitefly Control Spical Ulti-Mite Spider Mite Control With the release of Swirski Ulti-Mite , Koppert placed a revolutionary update of the successful predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii on the market. The company is now doing the same for Neoseiulus californicus . Growers of various crops warmly welcomed Spical Ulti-Mite , providing a more robust control of spider mite in vegetable, fruit and ornamental crops. Ulti-Mite is