Sugar beet production in western Europe is under threat because of the damages due to the impact of viruses that are transmitted by peach aphids. Since 1993, this threat has been under control by the use of neonicotinoids in seed treatments. Due to French regulations, this pesticide has been withdrawn from all crops since 2018. In absence of protection, major yield losses were observed in 2020 (-27.4%) due to early aphid arrivals. A derogative regime for sugar beet was set, that went to an end after the decision of the European Commission Justice Court in January 2023. In order to identify levers and combinations of levers to reduce the damages due to aphids and viruses, a large on-farm experiment network has been established across all the French sugar beet production since 2021. The levers under test are companion crops, flower strips to promote biological regulations, biocontrol, and aphid predators (eggs and larvae). New tolerant/resistant hybrids are also under test. This on-farm experiment is also adapted to show the options to farmers and to discuss these options. To learn more about this initiative, you may follow this link (website in French).

 

The first Agroecosystem Living Labs symposium will be organized as a side event of the international Adaptation Futures 2023 to be held in Montreal in October (2-6 October 2023 in Montréal, Canada). The Agroecosystem Living Labs, jointly organized by Agriculture and AgriFood Canada and INRAE-France, will be in a hybrid format and will offer the possibility to share experiences across the world. On-farm experiments are one form of such participatory approaches. Thanks to the work of the scientific committee, the most valuable papers will be published in a special issue of an international scientific journal. To visit the COnference Website, follow this link.