South Tyrol, the biggest connected fruit growing area in Europe (18.000 ha), in the past was confronted with several cases of pest resistance: red spider mite (1964), leafminer (1969), pear psylla (1973), red spider mite (1982) and leafminer (1988). That's why the Advisory Service already the early seventies, following the scientific knowledge of the IOBC/WPRS (International Organisation for Biological and Integrated Control of Noxious Animals and Plants, West Palaearctic Regional Section) adopted a specific method of crop protection:

Accurate Monitoring of the pests and benificials in the orchards, Raise the economical treshold level Exclude all predator-eliminating products if possible, Strictly avoid unnecessary chemical treatment

were the demands made by the Advisory Center from now on; as a result of this change in attitude towards pest management, a lot of chemicals which were recognized as highly toxic to people and environment were abandoned.

Within the scope of the 5th Symposium for integrated pest management (IPM) in fruit-growing, which took place in Bozen in 1974, one more step was taken:

The method practised so far should be completed with biological and biotechnical methods supporting beneficials as antagonists to the pests and chemical treatments should be reduced as much as possible.

The expected initial scepticism towards the demands of the integrated pest management eventually vanished at the beginning of the 80ies, when the resistance of the red spider mite (Panonychus ulmi) caused a considerable financial loss (1982) and the chances to control this pest in future were very poor.

INTEGRATED GROUPS (1980-1988)

A few progressive fruit-growers took up the idea of integrated crop protection at the beginning of the 70ies and wanted to realise it. But as in practice selective active agents were lacking, it was only possible to carefully direct the application of pesticides.

From 1977 on the South Tyrolean Advisory Service and the South Tyrolean Young Farmers organised courses on integrated crop protection during the winter months. The following practical realisation of this recent concept by the South Tyrolean fruit-growers lead gradually to the desired ecological awareness and a new approach.

From 1980 on the Advisory Service attended every year to 15 work groups for integrated pest management in various municipalities. These "integrated work groups" met fortnightly in order to observe the occurrence and the development of the most important pests and diseases as well as the beneficials in the orchards.

On an average each group was supervised for three years, and by 1987 about 600 fruit-growers had attended the courses on integrated pest management.

Reported experiences

The change-over has been problematic at times; the sporadic damages caused by codling moth and scab have shown the importance of careful monitoring. Furthermore, pest and beneficial controls on key terms help to reduce costs for spraying.

Integrated pest management requires technical knowledge from the growers and the willingness to run risks, but provided competent application, it brings financial advantages and makes the fruit-growing profession much more interesting (quotation: one of the participants in the work groups).

First results

• Regulation of the spider mites by phytoseid mites; a carefully directed application of pesticides in order to protect the natural antagonists of the spider mites lead to an almost complete abandonment of acaricides.
• Control of the Wooly Apple Aphid (Eriosoma lanigerum) through its parasite (Aphelinus mali).
• Reduction of insecticide treatment to 3 to 4 times à year.
• Reduction of active agent applications against mildew.

• the successful introduction of the concept of integrated production thanks to small work groups in other countries (GALTI/CH 1977 and COVAPI/F 1979) and the favourable reception of labelled apples among consumers,
• residues of herbicides (e.g. atracine, bentazone, etc.) have been found in drinking water in corn and rice growing areas of the Po Valley,
• a higher awareness and severe criticism on the side of consumers about pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables, various scandals reported by the mass-media and the damaged image of our fruit-growing area abroad,
• the tendency of big supermarket chains (COOP Italy mainly) and of a few baby food producers (Hipp, Nestle) to pay up to 10% more for fruit from integrated production schemes (according to criteria defined by contract) than for traditionally grown apples.

• Regulation of the spider mites by phytoseid mites
• Reduction of the residues on apples (fruit grown in AGRIOS productions cannot have more than 50% of the legally permitted amount of residues).
• Carefree apple consumption.
• Secure productiveness.
• Protection of the environment and the ecosystem.
• Introduction of a fieldbook.
• Higher professionalism of the fruit-growers.
• Image improvement.
• Use of alternative protection measures (mating disruption 1998: 4000 ha; soil nets against May beetles).
• Improved application techniques.
• Opening of new markets (Norway).