Safer foods for America : ARS research on alternatives to pesticide use

76 Pages·1993·5.1 MB·English

Historic, Archive Document
Do not assume content reflects current
scientific knowledge, policies, or practices.

Reserve
aSB950
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-A1S24
1993
SAFER FOODS FOR AMERICA
ARS Research on Alternatives to Pesticides Use
United States
Department of
.Agriculture
me AE
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National Agricultural Library
United States Department of Agriculture
Agricultural Research Service
Alternatives to Pesticides
Table of Contents
Subject
Safer Foods for America Briefing Paper, Dr. Coppedge, NPL
Summary Table of Funding for ARS Pesticides—Related Programs
Minor Use Pesticides—Funding by Location
o Minor Use Pesticides (Durbin)
10
IPM-Funding by Location
11-14
o IPM-—Headquarters Funds
15-19
o Pilot Test-Headquarters Funds
20
o IPM (Specter)
Biocontrol Research—Funding by Location 21
o Briefing Paper, Dr. Krysan, NPL Ms
Non-Chemical Pest Control-Funding by Location 23-24
Chemical Pest Control-Funding by Location 25
Sustainable Agriculture-Funding by Location 26-27
o Sustainable Agriculture (Durbin) 28-29
Fruit Fly Research by Type/Funding by Location 30
o Briefing Paper, Dr. Coppedge, NPL 31
o Fruit Fly Eradication (Durbin) 32
Alternatives to Methyl Bromide-Funding by Location 33
o Alternatives to Methyl Bromide (Cochran) 34
o Briefing Paper, Dr. Vick, NPL 35

Safer Foods for America — At What Cost?
The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) firmly believes that pest
management systems employing biologically-based or other pest-specific
technologies can lead to substantial reductions in the use of pesticides and
in the long run result in large savings to agriculture. This is clearly
reflected in the fact that in the last 20 years ARS has changed from mainly
evaluating new pesticides to a program today in which over 80% of all of the
pest control research is directed towards developing alternative technologies
and strategies for pest management. The implementation of pest management
systems using biologically-based control technology rather than synthetic
chemicals and the adoption of these systems by producers, would be a
Significant move towards increased sustainable agricultural systems. In ARS
programs today, over 25% of the research dollars spent contribute to a more
sustainable agriculture.
ARS and scientists from other agencies have made outstanding progress in
a number of areas that offer opportunities for achieving pest control at a low
cost and in an environmentally sound manner. Some of these improvements which
I will discuss later in this presentation are being used by producers today,
however, many are not. It is the nature of biologically-based and other
pest-specific procedures that they are more effective on an area-wide basis.
The evaluation of these technologies/strategies on this scale requires both
time and a considerable expenditure of resources. Commonly, for farmers,
consultants, and pest management organizations to adopt new insect or disease
control practices, it is necessary to demonstrate, on a commercial scale, that
the new strategy is effective, practical and safe.
Although, there are many constraints to the development of biologically-
based pest management systems, there are some successes which scientists feel
are indicative of what is possible in the future. As mentioned previously,
the ARS crop protection program is devoted to developing and evaluating
technologies to replace synthetic pesticides and to otherwise achieve food
safety and environmental quality goals. Rarely does a single new technology
result in an effective and sustainable pest management system; more
frequently, these new technologies must be combined with other environmentally
benign approaches into what is commonly called an integrated pest management
(IPM) system. Pest management programs are based on three broad areas of pest
control including biological control (i.e. beneficial insects and
microorganisms, insect or plant disease specific pathogens, host plant
resistance, sterile insects, sex pheromones for mating disruption), cultural
control (i.e. timing of planting crop rotation, sanitation, mulching, soil
solarization, fertilizer and water management), and chemical control. In the
context of IPM, chemical control is used as a supplement to biological and
cultural control and not as a replacement for these approaches.
Biological Control
In any discussion of biological or biologically-based pest control bt:
would probably be remiss not to mention, at least in passing, our single most
outstanding success--the Screwworm Eradication Program. Before this program,
this flesh feeding insect frequently attacked warm-blooded animals including
livestock, wildlife and occasionally humans. It was especially prevalent in
the warmer climates of the U.S. Its damage annually resulted in the loss of
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millions of dollars of revenue to livestock producers and other land owners.
Additionally, most domestic animals in infested areas were frequently treated
with insecticides by either dipping the whole animal or by spot treatment.
The screwworm was eradicated from the U.S. using an area-wide release of
radiation sterilized insects and improved ranching practices. This highly
successful program has resulted in a substantial reduction in pesticide use in
the United States and Mexico (where it has also been eradicated).
The development of crop varieties with improved qualities including
insect and disease resistance is a very successful but continuous process.
Our crop varieties already have a relatively high degree of resistance to many
of the common pests but pest organisms are constantly evolving and adapting in
spite of our ever improving pest management strategies. The new whitefly
‘biotype that has recently caused so much damage to a wide variety of crops in
this country is a good example of an insect's ability to change and adapt to
its environment. It is likely that such pest outbreaks will continue with or
without use of pesticides.
Our ARS scientists have developed close working relationships with
scientists of our State Agricultural Experiment Stations and together they
have introduced much of the crop germplasm and many of the new improved grain,
fruit, and vegetable varieties now being grown in this country and around the
world as well. ARS introduces about 300 improved varieties and germplasm each
year and over 80 percent of these new introductions are cooperative with the
States and/or the private sector. In all cases, our scientists are striving
to develop improved resistance to our major pests. We know from experience
that it is unrealistic to think that we can develop crop varieties that will
be immune to pest damage. But we believe that continued breeding for pest
resistance is the best long-range strategy that can be augmented with
biological control or methods of integrated pest management. This is the best
way to combat pests and help reduce the use of pesticides.
Our long standing effort to develop pest resistant varieties is paying
good dividends. Over the last 12 years, ARS has introduced over 3,550 new
varieties and germplasm lines, including a large number of new fruit and
vegetable varieties. Of all introductions, 81 percent have had improved
resistance to diseases and 31 percent with improved resistance to insects.
For many years, the continental U.S. has been invaded by pestiferous
fruit flies, i.e. medfly, Mexican fruit fly, oriental fruit fly, etc. If
these invasions are not dealt with on a swift and decisive basis, they can
become established and cause hundreds of million of dollars in crop losses and
result in the application of millions of pounds of insecticides. For the most
part, these invasions have been successfully dealt with by the use of releases
of sterile insects or male annihilation systems. Under the most severe
conditions, insecticide bait sprays have been used in the past, however, the
amount of pesticide applied’i s only a fraction of the amount that would be
applied if these pests were to become established in major fruit and vegetable
production areas. Currently, ARS is researching a promising alternative to
bait sprays.
A biocontrol agent, the fungus Gliocladium virens, has been developed by
ARS scientists to control/manage several seedling diseases of vegetables such
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