Switching to biologic crop protection was not easy for Cavalieri and Papaianni SRL , but their campaign are give off : they now turn Cartesian product that are very competitive on international markets . ‘ biologic craw protection is the future ; we are committed to this method . ’

Germany , the Netherlands , and ItalyCavalieri and Papaianni SRL is located near the town of Bisignano , in Calabria , the ‘ kick ’ of Italy . The ship’s company ’s largest crop is cut chrysanthemum ( 28 hectare ) , as well as potted rose ( 1 hectare ) and potted kalanchoe ( also 1 hectare ) . All crops are grown in nursery , fifteen hectares of which are equipped with grow lamps . The heating system runs on methane gas ; the electrical energy and CO2 beget are used in the greenhouses .

The company is have by Antonio and Simona Papaianni , who are both CEOs . Antonio is in burster of production , while Simona is creditworthy for administration . Cavalieri and Papaianni SRL has around 100 employee a class and primarily supplies products to Germany , the Netherlands , and Italy .

Ten years ago , Papaianni took the first steps along the path of biologic craw protective cover . The main reason for enter on this journey was the restrained effect chemical substance had against spider mite . The company also started having bother with thrips . Papaianni realized that Koppert ’s predatory mites provided a solution for combating both pestilence .

‘ The first results were comme il faut , ’ says Antonio Papaianni . ‘ Just a few weeks later , we had gained enough noesis to be capable to the right way plan how we would introduce predatory soupcon and extend with Integrated Pest Management . Two years later , we started using IPM in potted rose . ’

Penetrating new marketsThe production managing director and co - owner of Cavalieri and Papaianni SRL claims that implement biological crop protection is not a walk in the park . ‘ Monitoring the craw and infestation grade , release beneficials , and talk about matter with the consultants requires time and therefore money . But now we are harvest the benefits of biological crop protection and can start to fall into place new markets . ’

Today , the company uses four beneficials against flushed spider touch , thrip , and leaf miner . These are the predatory mites Spidex ( Phytoseiulus persimilis ) and Swirski - Mite ( Amblyseius swirskii ) , the parasitical wasp Miglyphus ( Diglyphus isaea ) , and the nematode product Entonem ( Steinernema feltiae ) .

The company , which grow its own cuttings for chrysanthemums , plan to use NatuGro and Trianum in 2019 . Trianum has already been test and has produce acceptable answer .

A more rich cropAntonio explains how the effects of biological crop protection are seeable presently after the start of a raw crop : the unseasoned plant are not stress like they used to be after being spray with chemical substance . ‘ The colour of the leaf has improved , the stalk are of higher quality and stronger , and the crop is more racy than in the past . The prime have more vivacious colours , which is very important for our cut-rate sale market and I can proudly differentiate that the quality is like with the westerly European output . '

Biological works protection on the farm costs a fraction more than the chemical attack . ‘ But it means we are competitive on the Western European market , which is the greatest benefit for us . At the moment we apply IPM on 15 hectares , but we require to do that on all 28 hectare by April 2019 . ’

Close collaborationOver the preceding ten long time , the fellowship has progress up a good collaborative relationship with Koppert and there is contact with Koppert ’s Italy - based consultant Dr. Felice Pallino almost every day . Antonio Papaianni says this is a witting decision , because everything has to be perfect . Thanks to this comprehensive guidance , Cavalieri and Papaianni SRL is able to grow products of excellent tone . ‘ The upshot we achieve with biologic harvest protection , the quality of our products , and our customers ’ satisfaction show us that this is the right advance . ’

Stiff competition in saturated marketsConsumers in the company ’s domesticated market place , Italy , show niggling interest group in biologic harvest protection . The situation is different elsewhere . ‘ We ’re attend year - on - class emergence in our exportation to Western Europe . These marketplace are saturate , so there ’s stiff contest . We hope that , one day , the food market will also want to pay off a little more for products that have been grown without the use of chemical substance . We conceive in this cultivation method and will continue using it , ’ says Antonio .

For more information : Koppert Biological SystemsEmail:[email   protected]www.koppert.com