Public Funding for Greenvale Ap Limited

The aim of this project is to improve on the current knowledge of "DeCyst" solanaceous trap crops, and how they are best utilized for PCN control by potato growers in England and the other potato growing regions of the UK. The project partners include Produce Solutions, CHAP, Harper Adams University, VCS (Potatoes) and five potato growers who are already growing trap crops as part of their integrated approach to PCN control. Current barriers to expansion of DeCyst trap cropping as a viable economic tool for PCN control include the increasing seed and establishment costs, coupled with challenging management required for crop establishment and grower knowledge of trap crops in the UK. In addition to improving establishment techniques, the project aims to look at the use of new species of DeCyst trap crops and the opportunity to grow them in between existing crops in the rotation without the need for substitution - thus unlocking the potential for use of trap crops as autumn and winter cover crops We aim to optimise crop establishment through understanding: * Seed rate * Sowing date (DeCyst-Podium) * Nutrition (Phosphate and Potassium) * Establishment method We will also develop cropping standards and generate comparison data for growers through examining: * Suitability of species/products for different farming systems * Intercrop drilling and date * Drilling (soil consolidation and nutrition) and weed control methods Together this will inform a new grower guide to DeCyst trap crops and how they fit best in an integrated approach to PCN control. This will provide evidence of best practice to achieve optimal levels of establishment and efficacy, alongside comparison to other non-chemical alternatives. This will enable growers to be confident in adopting trap crops as part of an integrated approach to PCN management and ensure UK potato production remains viable should it be in the unfortunate situation of losing any more valuable PCN control methods.

The availability of pesticides to control nematodes is diminishing following environmental and human safety reviews in all developed countries. It is estimated that the world loss in food production caused by nematode damage is circa $100 billion dollars per annum (FAO). This in a world of rapidly rising population and decline in natural resource availability, e.g., water. ECOspray have developed an alternative approach to nematode control using highly effective plant-derived polysulphides with some notable success (product on EU approved list, 91/414). Further research, financial support and impetus is now required to continue the development. Key objectives for this project will be to build on the substantial body of work already completed by including higher sulfur chain polysulphides in the active and holding them in a matrix so that when activated, they produce crop life protection against harmful species of nematodes in a wide range of food crops. Recent limited laboratory research in creating stable polysulphide chains at ambient temperatures has given an exciting insight into what might be achieved. Further funding from TSB will allow more thorough research being undertaken to take the most promising formulations through to pot trials in glasshouses and testing in inocculated media over the full life of the crop. The most promising will be screened out for trialing in fully replicated potato field trials. In the final growing season of the project, commercial trials will be undertaken. At the end of the 40 month project there will be at least one new nematicide, protecting a broad range of crops from the most challenging nematodes, with the potential for world market sales and IP protection.