6304: Kupferfreie Krankheitsregulierung im Apfel- und Rebbau (FiBL-Part) [Replacement of Copper Fungicides in Organic Production of Grapevine and Apple in Europe (FiBL-Part)]

{PROJECT} REPCO: Kupferfreie Krankheitsregulierung im Apfel- und Rebbau (FiBL-Part) [Replacement of Copper Fungicides in Organic Production of Grapevine and Apple in Europe (FiBL-Part)]. Runs 01 November 2003 - 31 October 2007. Project leader(s): Tamm, Lucius, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), CH-5070 Frick. More information online at <http://www.rep-co.nl>.

Summary

The objective of REPCO is to replace copper fungicides in organic agriculture by new measures for control of downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) in grapevine and scab (Venturia inaequalis) in apple. Both major European organic crops strongly depend on copper fungicides with application of a total of 38 kg copper per ha permitted between 2002 and 2006. Permitted amounts will be reduced stepwise during the following years (Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91, Annex II) to avoid environmental risks. In European countries where copper fungicides are already out of use, production of organic apples suffers severe economical problems because of insufficient scab control.
Potentiators of resistance, organically based fungicides and biocontrol agents will be screened and evaluated in grapevine and apple. The risk of pathogen evolution during use of novel control measures will be estimated to allow the development of sustainable strategies. Effects of crop management practices in organic agriculture on overwintering of V. inaequalis will be assessed.
Novel disease control measures and knowledge will be integrated into organic management systems. 'Pipeline' products already under development elsewhere will be included and where necessary optimised in their use.
Implementation by end-users and industries qualified for commercialisation of project findings will be strongly emphasised. SME partners will ensure a strong link between end-users and research. At the end of the project several compounds and biocontrol agents will be delivered to qualified industries for development of products for use in organic agriculture. Additionally, knowledge of integrated use of control measures will be delivered to organic growers. Knowledge and material will be exchanged with ongoing projects on potato late blight control in organically grown potato.
The project will thus strongly support EU policies to replace the use of copper fungicides in organic agriculture in the nearby future.
2. Project objective(s)
The objective of the project is to contribute to the replacement of copper fungicides in European organic agriculture by studying and developing new organically based fungicides and potentiators of resistance, new biocontrol agents and new integrated management systems for disease control of Plasmopara viticola (Pv) in organic grapevine and Venturia inaequalis (Vi) in organically grown apple. The new disease control measures will be in line with Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 defining products for plant protection in organic agriculture and requiring the replacement of the use of copper in organic agriculture. A multidisciplinary consortium of the European partners leading in the appropriate disciplines with high international reputations has now been formed to develop the required alternatives for use of copper in organic farming. This will strongly support European policies to implement reduced maximum copper rates allowed in organic farming after 2006.
REPCO will develop new organically based fungicides and potentiators of resistance, new biocontrol agents and new management systems integrating existing and new control measures in organic grapevine and apple production. At the end of REPCO, these new disease control measures will be available to qualified industries for product development, registration and commercial exploitation as a pre-requisite for implementation by end-users. Integrated use of these disease control measures, as important new tools for sustainable agriculture management will significantly reduce the dependency of grapevine and apple production on copper fungicides. Thereby, the policy of the European Commission to promote sustainable, quality-based agriculture production systems and the implementation of Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 Appendix II Part B-IV on (reduced) use of copper fungicides will strongly be supported.
Objectives of Workpackages
To achieve the ambitious overall objective of REPCO, realisation of seven workpackages (WPs) with specific objectives listed below is necessary. For each workpackage, measurable and verifiable deliverables and milestones are produced which will be main criteria for project reviewing and assessment. Annual reports will be produced by each partner showing results obtained and whether or not criteria of deliverables and milestones were reached. Details of milestones and deliverable as well as their timing are given in 7.5, Table 2 and 3.

Additional Summary

Involved organisations, project partners:
-Plant Research International B.V., Wageningen, The Netherlands: Jürgen Köhl
-Staatliches Weinbauinstitut (WBI), Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany: Hanns-Heinz Kassemeyer
-Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland: Lucius Tamm
-Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zürich (ETHZ), Zürich, Switzerland: Cesare Gessler
-Istituto Agrario di San Michele all'Adige (IASMA), Michele all'Adige, Italy: Ilaria Pertot
-Groupe de Recherche en Agriculture Biolique (GRAB), Avignon, France: Cyril Bertrand
-Applied Plant Research B.V. (PPO), Wageningen, The Netherlands: Bart Heijne
-The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University (KVL), Frederiksberg C, Denmark: John Hockenhull
-Danish Institute of Agricultural Sciences (DIAS), Aarslev, Denmark: Hanne Lindhard Pedersen
-ECOVIN Bundesverband Ökologischer Weinbau, Oppenheim, Germany: Paulin Köpfer
-Bio Fruit Advies, Zoelmond, The Netherlands: Marc Trapman
-Prophyta GmbH, Malchow/Poel, Germany: Ute Eiben

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