MODEL OLIVE GROVE OF ROUMATA FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF OLIVE FRUIT FLY
Olive fruit fly (Bactrocera oleae) is considered the most harmful pest of olive cultivation, causing a particularly increased quantitative and qualitative degradation of the olive oil produced. Due to the change of the climate to subtropical and the human intervention in the olive grove agro-ecosystem, high populations of olive fruit fly and early fruit drop are observed before the start of the Bait Spraying (B.S.). A representative example is the monumental olive grove of Agricultural Cooperative of Palea Roumana, where there is often the risk of producing olive oil with degraded quality characteristics, due to increased olive fruit fly infestation, or due to the presence of insecticide residues from the extensive and intensive use of chemicals (cover sprays), while scientific reports of the development of insect resistance to insecticides are increasing.
INNOVATION
In the present project, the optimal combination of mass trapping (biological method) with precision spraying (low volume spraying using electronic equipment and automation systems) is proposed, constituting the most environmentally friendly, integrated, efficient and effective management of the insect [Integrated Pest Management (IPM)]. [Integrated Pest Management (IPM)]This approach minimizes the use of agrochemicals, contributes to environmental protection and is fully in line with the European Directives on the sustainable use of plant protection products, contributing to the production of safer and higher quality food with high nutritional and commercial value.
The innovation of the Operational Plan concerns the modification of the olive fruit fly control procedure. A holistic approach to tackling olive fruit fly based exclusively on environmentally friendly techniques is to be applied – for the first time both nationally and internationally. The mass trapping method will be combined with precision and low-volume bait spraying with automatic sprayers. These methods will completely replace cover spraying and bait spraying as currently carried out with conventional sprayers. These methods will completely replace cover spraying and bait spraying as currently carried out with conventional sprayers. It is expected that after three years of implementation of the Operational Plan, the mass trapping method will have become almost self-sufficient and very few additional low-volume precision bait spraying with exclusively biological formulations will be required. Olive growers and all those involved in olive oil production – through the transfer of know-how – will adapt to the new conditions and European regulations that promote sustainable agriculture, minimizing the use of agrochemicals in order to produce higher quality and safer food.
