Webinars
'Understanding the impact of policy change and agronomic practice on carrot virus and vector management in the UK’ by Adrian Fox, Fera Science Ltd. - 5th November 2024
Regulations may change, aimed at solving one issue, which may have unintended consequences leading to challenges emerging elsewhere. Generally, changes in pesticide regulation are driven either by public health concerns, or concerns about adverse environmental impacts, usually through non-target impacts, such as negative effects on pollinators or other beneficial insects. However, many key virus-vector aphids have resistance to other insecticide chemistries The removal of some chemistries, allied to vector resistance to the remaining arsenal of insecticides, may be contributing to a re-emergence in epidemics of aphid transmitted plant viruses, especially those with a persistent mechanism of transmission. This phenomenon is being observed in range of crops including potatoes, brassicas, cereals, and field vegetables, such as carrots. Additionally, agronomic and land use practices may also play a role in these outbreaks. Effective management of vector borne virus epidemics depends on understanding the relative influences of these different elements, and the limitations of current control measures.
Viruses infecting carrot limit yield and quality of carrots in the United Kingdom. In this webinar Dr Adrian Fox from Fera describes a 10 year programme of research which has determined the viruses of concern in UK carrots, their respective key vector species, the relative influences of agronomic practice on pathogen prevalence, and trials on the impact of timing of chemical controls on yield and virus transmission, with a view to formulating improved management advice. He also discusses the potential influences of policy and agricultural practice on these networks.
'Outsmarting the outbreaks: predictive models to protect plant health’ - 16th July 2024
Stephen Parnell is a plant disease epidemiologist and modeller based at the Warwick Crop Centre and Zeeman Institute for infectious disease epidemiology.
Epidemics of plant destroying pests and diseases are on the rise due to the ever-increasing movement of people and plants around the planet. These pests and diseases can destroy plants in natural environments, such as forests, or in agricultural crops, impacting our ability to produce food.
In this webinar Dr Stephen Parnell talks us through some of the work that he has been involved in regarding the use of predictive modelling and optimisation of strategies for the detection and control of plant epidemics. Stephen also details some of the exciting work being done with citizen science and plant health and the potential that this holds for the future.
Vegetable breeding for the future - 30th May 2024
The importance of genetic improvement and crop breeding was highlighted in the recent Government Blueprint for the UK fruit and vegetable sector.
This webinar will consider the opportunities and technologies available for breeding new varieties of vegetables in the future. There will be short presentations by Dr Eleri Tudor (Genomics Specialist) and Dr Justin Roberts (vegetable breeder) both from Elsoms Seeds Ltd and Dr Lauren Chappell (Warwick Crop Centre).
Link to recording:
IPM Decisions and IPMWORKS projects - 24th April 2024
Dr Mark Ramsden (ADAS) spoke about the IPM Decisions and IPMWORKS projects, which together are supporting reduction of pesticide use across Europe.
Reducing pesticide use, without adverse impact on productivity and competitiveness, requires two steps:
- Reducing the need for pesticides by integrating non-chemical control measures
- Treating crops with pesticides according to the reduced need.
IPMWORKS (101000339) has established an IPM demonstration farm network, to showcase the benefits of IPM and the application of integrated non-chemical control measures to reduce the need for pesticides. The project has created an online IPM Resource Toolbox, e-Learning modules, and case examples of IPM in action. IPMWORKS has promoted the concept of Holistic IPM, focused on the requirement to reduce the need for pesticide. IPM Decisions (817617) addresses the second requirement by creating an online platform hosting decision support systems (DSS) for IPM, enabling users to better target pest monitoring and pesticide treatment according to need. DSS cover a diverse range of decision tools including pest monitoring and treatment thresholds, forecasting pest prevalence and damage, and systems for comparing pesticide treatment options. During the session, we will demonstrate the online IPM Resource Toolbox and IPM Decisions Platform, highlight some examples of IPM in action, and discuss the next steps and opportunities for advancing IPM decision support.
Earthworms and acoustics - 19th March 2024
Dr Jackie Stroud (Warwick Crop Centre, School of Life Sciences) and Carlos Abrahams from Baker Consultants talked about their recent work 'listening for earthworms'.
In Europe, earthworms are often perceived as an indicator of soil health. Soil management, particularly tillage intensity and organic matter management can change earthworm community structures. However, measurement of earthworms is uncommon and infrequent – time-consuming digging, hand sorting and laboratory identification is difficult to do at field and farm scales. This is a major barrier in using soil health measurements to guide soil management practices. To resolve this problem, they are developing soil acoustics as a soil health measurement.
Link to recording:
Biological solutions for sustainable crop protection
- 20th February 2024
Dr Roma Gwynn (Biorationale Limited) spoke about biological solutions for pest, disease and weed management.
Roma considered:
- Current and future trends in availability of plant protection products
- The types of companies involved
- Capabilities, benefits and also weaknesses of biological solutions and the need to use them within IPM
- Case studies for different crop types.
Roma has taken a lead role in the development and registration of many new biorational technologies in the EU and internationally, including semiochemical, botanical and microbial substances. Her expertise is in facilitating the process of getting biorational products onto the market by streamlining discovery, research, product development, registration and marketing, with particular expertise on efficacy. Roma has been Vice President of theInternational Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA)Link opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window
Dave Chandler followed Roma with a short presentation about how agri-tech could improve management with biocontrol agents in the future, which links to the webinar in January 2024.
Recording of webinar:
Update on bean seed fly - 19th February 2024
The management of bean seed fly has been causing considerable concern for growers over the last few years. The main reason for the concern is the loss, or imminent loss, of insecticidal seed treatments, since to date this method of applying insecticides has been the most effective. Several organisations have worked on the problem and there were summaries of the work, particularly the PhD project undertaken by Becca McGowan at Warwick University with funding from AHDB, PGRO and the University - which was completed in December 2023. Becky Howard from PGRO and Simon Jackson from Syngenta UK also provided input to the session.
Recording of webinar:
Introduction to Warwick Agri-Tech - 25th January 2024
The University of Warwick recently announced the formation of Warwick Agri-Tech to help the future of farming with automation – addressing issues such as labour shortages, food insecurity and loss of biodiversity. It will combine two world class faculties at WMG at The University of Warwick and the School of Life Sciences (SLS), working with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult to spearhead automation in areas such as horticulture, crops and forestry. Robots will be a key tool for farmers as food production comes under increasing pressure.
Warwick Agri-Tech was born out of an initial project which developed a crop monitoring robot (Crombot) to move autonomously up and down glasshouses and check fruit for ripeness. Officially launched on 20th December, with a visit from the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) Chief Scientific Advisor, Professor Gideon Henderson, Warwick Agri-Tech will continue its research on several key projects.
During the webinar Emilio Loo Monardez, WMG and Dave Chandler, Warwick Crop Centre talked about some of the projects that Warwick Agritech are undertaking currently and their plans for the future.
Launch press release: Warwick Agri-Tech ploughs the future of farming and forestry with robotics - Press Releases
Recording of webinar: Intro to Warwick Agri-Tech (youtube.com)
Webinar on Smart tools for pest and disease management in outdoor vegetable crops
Tuesday, 25th April 2023, 2pm to 3pm (UK time) - in Microsoft Teams.
A range of new Smart tools and technologies are being developed to help growers manage pests and diseases in outdoor vegetable crops. The H2020 Thematic Network SmartProtect has identified and reviewed the range that is available to European growers. This webinar will focus on some of the tools and techniques that can be applied in outdoor vegetable crops and an approach that is under development at the University of Leuven.
There will be the following presentations:
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Introduction to the Smartprotect project – Sabien Pollet, INAGRO, Belgium.
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Tools for detecting plant disorders due to pests and diseases - Mike Kaminiaris, Agenso, Greece
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Smart traps for vegetable crops – Jonathan de Mey, INAGRO, Belgium and Rosemary Collier, Warwick Crop Centre, University of Warwick, UK
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Towards automatic insect identification in Flanders - Joannis Kalfas, University of Leuven, Belgium
BASIS points were available.
Webinar on Smart tools for pest and disease management in protected edible crops
Thursday, 30th March 2023, 2pm to 3pm (UK time) - in Microsoft Teams.
A range of new Smart tools and technologies are being developed to help growers manage pests and diseases in protected edible crops. The H2020 Thematic Network SmartProtect has identified and reviewed the range that is available to European growers. This webinar will focus on some of the tools and techniques that can be applied in protected edible crops.
There will be presentations by:
BASIS points were available.
Bean seed fly meeting
Thursday, 5th January 2023, 10 am-12.30 pm - in Microsoft Teams.
The management of bean seed fly has been causing considerable concern for growers over the last few years. The main reason being the loss, or imminent loss, of the most effective management method of insecticidal seed treatments. Several organisations are working on the problem. The approaches investigated represent several components of a developing IPM strategy. More information.
VeGIN (Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network) Stakeholder Event January 2023
Wednesday,18th January 2023, 10:30 am - 4 pm - in person and via Microsoft Teams
VeGIN is an interactive network of researchers and industry leaders, who work together to promote market delivery of improved vegetable varieties using sustainable production systems.
This stakeholder event provided updates on the progress made in the project over the past year, together with an international contribution and a speaker from the industry.
HelianthNet - Sunflower Meeting
Tuesday, 13th December 2022, 10:30 am - 4 pm - in person at Wellesbourne
In consideration of the potential impact on UK agriculture and in particular crop rotations BBSRC are interested in establishing the requirements that such alternative crops might require. Sunflowers as illustrated by its success in other countries is considered a possibility. Our aim is to work with industrial partners across the supply chain to build a business case for sunflower as an alternative oilseed crop when grown in rotation with cereals, as well as to understand the barriers which currently prevent sunflower becoming a viable crop for wide scale use in the UK.
This event will seek inputs from across the supply chain to help determine what would be required to allow sunflowers to become a serious contender for crop rotations and what areas would benefit from research or development.
Previous Events
Carrots - diseases, pests and genetic resources
Monday, 14th March, 10 am - 11 am - in Microsoft Teams
Carrot growers face a number of challenges in producing quality product. This webinar will cover our current research on cavity spot, aphids and virus before going on to consider how genetic diversity in carrots might be exploited.
Presentations:
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Cavity spot of carrot: developing techniques for research and disease management - John Clarkson
- Pests of carrot with a focus on aphids and virus - Rosemary Collier
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Valuing variety: understanding and using crop diversity in carrots - Charlotte Allender (UK Vegetable Gene Bank and VeGIN project)
- Recording of webinar
Bean seed fly meeting
Wednesday, 8th December 2021, 10 am-12 pm - in Microsoft Teams.
The management of bean seed fly has been causing considerable concern for growers over the last few years. The main reason being the loss, or imminent loss, of the most effective management method of insecticidal seed treatments. Several organisations are working on the problem including a meeting for growers and agronomists on 9th December 2020, where some of their recent activities were presented and discussed. The approaches investigated represent several components of a developing IPM strategy. More information and to register
VeGIN (Vegetable Genetic Improvement Network) Stakeholder Event January 2021
November 2021, 10:30 am - 4 pm - via Microsoft Teams
VeGIN is an interactive network of researchers and industry leaders, who work together to promote market delivery of improved vegetable varieties using sustainable production systems.
This stakeholder event provided updates on the progress made in the project over the past year, together with an international contribution and a speaker from the industry.
The title of our first webinar was 'Lettuce - diseases, pests and post-harvest quality' and is part of our Crop Pests and Disease theme.
Lettuce growers face a number of challenges in producing quality product. Major causes of loss of quality are pests and diseases in the field and post-harvest discolouration ('browning' and 'pinking') which is a major limitation to the shelf life of prepared salads.