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Tomato leafminer is top greenhouse pest concern globally

Tomato leafminer (Tuta absoluta) and Russet mite infestation of tomatoes emerged among the top three crop pest priorities for the global greenhouse industry.

In the almost year-long process that culminated in the third Global Minor Use Priority Setting virtual meeting on Sept. 21-22, Tuta absoluta was of the greatest concern to greenhouse growers, researchers, registrants and other stakeholders. Thrips infestation of greenhouse ornamentals was number two, while Russet mites in greenhouse tomatoes was number three.

The discussions, collaborations and decisions made at these meetings demonstrated the critical needs producers around the world have and how a collaborative effort can work to address them even in times of pandemic. Growers, researchers, registrants, crop specialists, country representatives and other stakeholders worked to reach consensus and negotiate needs.

Despite the restrictions and limitations, the process was completed and now the next step is for the minor use foundation to review the global rankings that were agreed upon and initiate funding proposals to address the data requirements of the most critically needed global minor use priorities.

In addition to greenhouse-grown crops, other minor use priorities were identified in temperate crops and tropical crops. These projects will be reviewed by the minor use foundation in October, and where funding is available, the data requirements will be generated.

56 countries participated identifying over 4,100 global crop pest priorities. The primary aims of the global minor use priority-setting process are to identify globally significant crop-pest problems, find registerable solutions to those problems and where necessary seek harmonized maximum residue limits to facilitate trade.

For more information visit www.minorusefoundation.org

Source: Jim Chaput, OMAFRA, Provincial Minor Use Coordinator, Guelph