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As a student it already annoyed me...
that chemicals were applied...
even though organic measures were (probably) available.
Early on I noticed that cost factors had naturally prevented...
many of these organic measures from coming on the market.
This situation has motivated me to develop ways...
to make these organic measures available at affordable prices.
Then they can start to be integrated in praxis.
Ultimately that is why this factory was created.
We produce beneficial organisms...
based on bacteria, yeasts and roundworms, also known as nematodes,
which are used in organic crop protection.
A very important pest recently Introduced into Europe...
is the corn rootworm.
In the past neonicotinoid insecticides were used...
to fight corn rootworms.
Now neonicotinoids are prohibited because they threaten bees.
This is an instance where nematodes could be used.
We’ve cheaply produced these roundworms in large fermenters...
and offer them to farmers today at only a slightly higher price
then chemical agents.
We’ve studied the effectiveness in the field for 10 years and observed...
that the effectiveness is just as high as with chemical measures.
An important reason why organic measures should be preferred...
is that there are no residues.
We don’t have any toxic residues and there are fewer negative effects...
on the antagonist potential in the field,
so that even helps farmers further: without having to pay extra...
they get the antagonist potential in their agro-biotope for free.
Concerning pesticides EU provisions actually foster...
organic plant protection
in countries under the National Action Plan.
However, what happens is exactly the opposite.
Governments even still authorize chemical measures...
when they could rather be showing farmers how to properly and...
effectively use organic crop protection measures.
But instead they’re doing the complete opposite!
Government decided that fewer chemical measures are to be used.
But farmers can’t just be left out in the cold by taking everything away from them...
and ultimately leaving them without any available alternatives.
In this case organic pest control would be an option.
However, too few products are offered on the market.
Government has to take a second step...
in promoting organic crop protection measures.
This would mean providing for faster authorization, more staff, and more
advisors to help farmers better understand organic crop protection.