Recent advances in cannabis biocontrol

the use of biological control agents such as predatory insects, mites and nematodes is rapidly increasing worldwide due to pesticide restrictions and a heightened awareness by the consumer. cannabis, more than any other crop, has strictly regulated pesticide restrictions which has caused a high adoption rate of biological controls. the demand has sparked innovation in the biocontrol industry.
beyond the increasing range of beneficial species that are being bred, new delivery methods are appearing on the market. one of the innovative products that won the bernard blum award is biobee’s patented

biopersi + slow-release sachets of phytoseilus persimilis.

 

groundbreaking rearing technology has made it possible to apply phytoseilus persimilis, the ultimate spider mite predator, preventively. this new application method has made it particularly popular among cannabis growers. slow-release sachets are easy to apply, highly visible, making it easier to monitor while allowing growers to avoid contaminating their crop with the carrier materials used to distribute predatory mites. the high value of the cannabis crop, makes the use of such techniques cost effective.

another challenge of biologically based integrated pest management (ipm) is that natural enemies can only establish once pests are present, thus they must be reapplied on the crop. to avoid multiple applications, which can be costly, biobee recommends exercising the “standing army” approach:  the application of natural enemies and supplementary nutrition thus allowing them to establish and multiply in the absence of prey.

 

 

to avoid any contamination of the cannabis crop, biobee created bioartline. an innovative delivery system of a 100-meter tape bearing fine lines of bioartfeed (premium quality processed decapsulated artemia cysts), glued on the edges of both sides of the tape.  it functions as a multi-purpose platform: a feeding station which attracts, feeds and facilitates mobility. bioartfeed is also unique as it provides suitable feed for all the key predator groups: predatory mites, predatory bugs and mirid bugs.
new approaches, delivery methods and a wide range of beneficial agents provide solutions to cannabis growers. when used in combinations they can help cannabis growers grow a clean crop with fewer pesticide residues.  the goal is to maintain a clean crop through all stages of production, rather than fighting pest outbreaks.

 

for more info visit our web site:https://www.biobee.com/

 

this article was published in ‘medical cannabis 2022’ digital magazine.