NL: New zantedeschia IPM strategy effective against pests

Machiel de Roon, zantedeschia aethiopica 'Avalanche’ grower, accepted the challenge to participate in a trial of the new company Dudutech Europe, based in the Netherlands. He happily looks back on the past year and a visit to the parent company in Kenya.

Machiel de Roon grows zantedeschia on his 13,000 m² nursery ‘Call de Roon’ in Mijnsherenland, the Netherlands. Its exclusive calla lilies are widely used in funeral and bridal flower arrangements, but also look great in modern flower arrangements.

Like many other growers De Roon is seeing the increased importance of integrated pest management (IPM). "It is becoming increasingly difficult to control pests and diseases with the current resources, especially with the current regulations. So I changed course in 2015 and started exploring the possibilities to integrate our pest management."

De Roon opted for Dudutech’s knowledge and natural predators. Dudutech is a new player in this market in our regions. "Besides bacterial and fungal diseases I also have to deal with pests like mites and thrips, in cultivation. Both pests can cause a lot of damage to the crop. In consultation with my advisor, I started using natural predators against these diseases and pests in 2016."

When Dudutech Europe opened its establishment in the Netherlands, De Roon was able to participate in one of the trial rounds. "This was a challenge for me, but also a learning process for them, to see how the lines ran from Kenya to the end user. With their knowledge and expertise we have had a good, clean year so far. We have stuck to Dudutech’s schedules without having to intervene chemically. The diseases and pests have remained at a low level."

De Roon stresses that he consciously hasn’t looked at what’s happening in other companies. "My vision is: Stick to your situation and what’s happening in your own company."

The grower has also looked at the overall MRL (maximum residue limit of plant protection product). "Our customers are increasingly more interested in the MRL. My MRL is equivalent to the vegetable standard. And that in our first year!"

Past September, De Roon visited the horticultural trade fair in Naivasha. Together with consultant Eric Kerklaan he also paid a visit to Dudutech in Kenya. "I wanted to see how they grow the predators – like fungi, nematodes and insects – and everything that is involved, for myself. 

He also visited two Kenyan companies that Dudutech supplies with advice and natural predators. "One of these was a rose nursery working with IPM and a high level. The vegetable standard applies. In order to achieve this, the relationship with the producer is very important. Together, they set a goal in advance. They only look at what’s happening at the company. Scouting is done twice a week. Subsequently, the grower and the consultant determine the target and treatment strategy together."