Modern farmers get along without pesticides 3.11.2021

Modern farmers get along without pesticides

Today’s overuse of pesticides in agriculture has a detrimental effect on the  environment. These dangerous substances exterminate not only many plant and  animal species, but they also contaminate the soil and water. Traces of pesticides can  be found in our food and thus endanger human health as well. Modern aquaponic  farms reliably produce foodstuffs without the use of any chemical agents. How do the  operators of these farms battle pests? 

Growing crops always carries the risk of infestation by various forms of pests, unwanted  organisms and disease. Pesticides, such as insecticides, fungicides and herbicides, are  used in intensive agriculture to eliminate these threats. A significant problem today is the overuse of these pesticides, which has harmful effects on the environment and on human  health.  

Representatives of both ecology organizations and the countries of the European Union  have long worked towards limiting the use of pesticides and they endeavor to motivate  farmers to use non-chemical agents and other alternative methods of agriculture.  

One of the alternative methods of ecological production of healthy and high-quality foodstuffs  is aquaponics. Modern aquaponic farms, which combine growing plants with raising fish,  respect the cycle of nutrients in nature. The use of agrochemicals is forbidden, as this would  irreversibly damage the ecosystem of the entire farm. 

The operators of aquaponic farms use biological protections for their plants. To control pests  such as aphids, whiteflies, thrips, spider mites and butterflies, farmers make use of their  natural enemies – predators. A typical example of biological protection of plant crops would  be to bring in certain types of hover flies and predatory mites or bugs. For example, the  parasitoid chalcidoid wasp Encarsia formosa protects plants against whiteflies in  greenhouses. Pheromone traps or biological sprays using the soil-dwelling bacteria Bacillus  thuringiensis are also used as biological protection. Biological protection of plant crops is  used only when a more serious infestation of harmful organisms has been discovered.  

It is always better to avoid an infestation of plant crops. In aquaponic farming, therefore,  great importance is placed on prevention. Selecting appropriate and resistant varieties,  installing mechanical barriers and observing strict hygiene procedures on farms are  essential.



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AQP FOOD SYSTEM
Aquaponic Development Association-Georgia
CzechUps
Farma Raječek
Farmia food
FUTURE FARMING
Go Aquaponik
Hunger Fighters
Mendel University in Brno
The Young Agrarians´Society of the Czech Republic
The Venus Project
VŠB-TUO
University of Chemistry and Technology Prague

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