What was the challenge/problem addressed?

10 partners with complementary knowledge, experience and expertise have been selected to participate in the Operational group, with the aim of focusing their efforts on addressing real problems and cases that will be solved as a result of their joint and complementary role. The involvement of 8 farmers with different profiles and backgrounds, growing different crops, aims to harness their practical experience and entrepreneurial skills in order to promote the implementation of innovative monitoring and biological control methods on their farms.

In their multiannual experience in traditional crop cultivation, they are increasingly confronted with the excessive use of pesticides and water, which leads to the ineffectiveness of used chemical preparations, to the resistance of pests to pesticides, to the contamination of production, and to the reduction of quality and the yields.

At present, decisions on pest control are taken with delay, less often preventively or immediately with detection.

In order to increase the competitiveness, the farmer-initiator is looking for environmentally friendly options to optimize all processes related to plant protection – monitoring, biological and mechanical control, rapid and adequate decision-making.

Timely implementation of appropriate plant protection strategies is of great importance, given the increase in the area of crops cultivation, which also requires active plant protection.

 

Kako ste riješili problem?

Specific bioagents have been introduced into the farms, which will increase biodiversity, thus create favorable conditions for the use of ecosystem services, reduce the risk of the development of resistance in pests to plant protection products, reduce the use of pesticides and residues in production, protect water from pesticide pollution and

minimizing the risk of poisoning bee colonies.

New models of light trap and ” trap mimicking real blossom ” have been created. They will improve observations on the pest emergence and population dynamics and refine and improve control stages and methods. They will then be introduced into the practice in the near future for mass pest trapping as an alternative method to chemical control.

To help farmers, a web-based platform will be developed to quickly identify the most common economically important pests on relevant crops and options for their management. The application will allow pest identification and control decision making in the field in the shortest possible time.

 

Ono što je inovativno u vašem praktičnom slučaju?

The project is aimed at elaborating on complex pest control, their testing, and the introduction of these methods for non-chemical control of crop pests.

  1. Development and testing of two new products – a trap for small insects ” trap mimicking blossom” and a light trap for moths and flying insects.
  2. Implementation and environmental adaptation of the bioagents.
  3. Implementation of a new web-based platform for quick identification of pests and accordingly offering the most effective biological control methods.

Koji su čimbenici uspjeha u rješavanju problema?

For the agricultural producers in Bulgaria is not usual practice to organize themselves in groups for mutual cooperation in topics of common interest. On this background the setting up and already accomplished joint work, which has given already results, can be defined as success and a good example to follow and which can be a model for other farmers in the country.

The introduction of bioagents will reduce pest populations.

Increase in quantity of first-quality versus quantity of second-quality production.

Pesticide resistance in insects is expected to be reduced or eliminated.

The developed software shortens the time from pest detection to the start of effective control.

Naučene lekcije

The project is still under implementation and the activities set out in the project are ongoing. As a conclusion from the activities implemented so far, we can say that farmers’ knowledge has been increased regarding the applied environmentally sound practices related to pest management through ecological approaches and ecosystem services, reduction of pesticide use, biodiversity conservation, and production of safe food without residues. One of the successes of the project is the collaboration of producers from different sub sectors (vegetable crops, orchards, cereals). This collaborative work has several positive aspects: improved communication between partners towards addressing real problems and case studies, the solution of which will take place as a result of the collaborative and complementary role, responsibility, and activities of the task force members. The introduction of an interactive approach in the process of organizing the activities facilitates the exchange of knowledge and good practices between the partners, and the convergence between science and practice through discussions, radionice, and seminars to analyze problems and seek common solutions, as well as joint decision-making by all partners throughout the project period. To promote and disseminate the innovative results of the project, all partners (members of the Operational group) work together by complementing and mutually sharing their experiences, contacts, and networks of stakeholders and institutions.

What role does the advisor or advisory service play with the practical case?

The consultant in person of the National Agricultural Advisory Service (NAAS) assisted us in the preparation of the project proposal. The results of the project will be promoted after its completion through the network of 55 NAAS offices throughout the country. A “Consultancy Module” will be elaborated, which will allow contact with a consultant in order to receive advices for possible solutions and for a short time after to act. The platform will allow all conversations between the advisor and farmer to be visible to all other users The platform constitutes public information exchange. This platform will be available to all farmers for information exchange during the project.

Može li se vaš pristup prenijeti i/ili prilagoditi drugim inovacijskim izazovima i regijama?

Da

Procijenjena prenosivost na ljestvici od 1 Consulai_i2connect_Horizon2020+logo_1 5

(gdje 1 je lako i 5 vrlo teško)

3

 

Za razmjenu iskustava o dobroj praksi, please contact

Boril Nikolov

+359 889 502 686 info@oporazaden.bg

Link to external information

https://ec.europa.eu/eip/agriculture/en/find-connect/projects/%D1%83%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%B9%D1%87%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B5-%D0%BD%D0%B0-%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%BE%D1%81%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B5-%D1