Centre for Biological Control, CBC
The Centre for Biological Control, CBC, contributes to the development of new knowledge concerning the use of living organisms to control pests and diseases. CBC is a competence driven actor in biological control, both nationally and internationally.
A visit from Italy to develop new biocontrol agents
Associate Professor Vittoria Catara from the University of Catania in Italy is visiting Campus Alnarp for two weeks. The aim of the visit is to investigate interactions between microbes to develop
Intensive agriculture results in less reliable weed control from seed eaters
To increase crop productivity, agriculture relies on intensive use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers. In a new study, researchers show that with intensive agriculture, there is a risk of losing
Are pests adapting to the push-pull system?
Ecologically intensified farms in Kenya, where biodiversity is carefully managed, maintain successful pest control over time. That is the result of a research study published in 2023. The idea of
Small RNAs – the future of plant protection?
Small RNAs are common in fungi, including fungi that can be used as biocontrol agents in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry. In a new review, SLU scientists highlights the diverse function of
SLU Centre for Biological Control's annual report 2023
“Year after year we see that biocontrol innovations provide better and better crop protection, in many cases matching or even surpassing chemical pesticides”, says Johan Stenberg, the Director of the
Bark beetles can’t hide from their natural enemies
Flies from the genera Medetera can sense and find the bark beetle Ips typographus that is a severe insect pest on Norway spruce. A synthetic blend of the compunds that the flies react to can
Goal for the future: Fields buzzing with insects
A wide variety of beneficial insects live in and on the soil of arable fields. Together they form a network of helpers that promote crop growth. In her thesis at the Swedish University of
Ramesh Vetukuri receives supervision excellency award
Ramesh Vetukuri received the Best Supervisor Award 2023 from the Faculty of landscape architecture, horticulture and crop production sciences. Part of the motivation was that Ramesh has a very
Cassandra Vogel
cassandra.vogel@slu.se I'm a postdoc researching the resilience of biological pest control to climate change. To do this, I explore the climatic niches of natural enemy communities, and how natural
How does tillage affect weed regulation by seed eaters?
Carabid beetles are a group of beetles that eat weed seeds. In a new study, the abundance of carabid beetles has been shown to be correlated to weed seed regulation in directly seeded fields without
Lunch seminar SLU Plant Protection Network with Eirini Lamprini Daouti
katja.fedrowitz@slu.se Eirini Lamprini Daouti, Department of Crop Production Ecology;, gives a lunch seminar with the title "Effects of tillage on weed regulation by carabid beetles". This seminar
Developing beneficial microbes to products
Ramesh Vetukuri participated and was a panelist at the meeting Skåne Innovation Day that this year focused on investing in innovation. “I got a robust understanding of how to transition my research