Roses belong to the Rosaceae family, and count more than three hundred species and over thousands of different cultivars. Roses are used as ornamental plants, cut flowers and for other commercial applications (perfumes, cooking, cosmetics and medicine). To provide customers with healthy looking roses many growers use harsh pesticides and many pesticides applied are persistent, dislodgeable by hand contact and fat-soluble. Growers, florists and consumers are all potentially exposed to the chemical residue. Today there is a higher demand for residue-free roses which can be achieved with the BioBee multifaceted IPM programs.
Pests and Diseases
BioBee’s approach to IPM is multifaceted, employing multiple strategies to achieve the optimal result. In addition to the gradual release of host-specific beneficial insects, BioBee recommends that growers use selective “soft” chemical pesticides. This strategy helps growers transition from using “harsh” chemicals, which are dangerous to the human population and the environment and have long-lasting residues. It has also been proven to increase marketable crop yield, and as a result, increases profits.
With BioBee, growers meet the strict legislation in Europe, the U.S., Japan and other countries regarding MRLs (maximum residue levels), as well as GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) requirements, including GLOBALGAP (a voluntary standard required by many supermarket chains in Europe). Produce grown with BioBee requires minimal pesticide use.
BioBee’s staff is extensively trained in the IPM method, and works directly with growers to produce a tailor-made IPM program to meet his or her individual needs. This customized program is successfully implemented with the ongoing oversight and guidance of BioBee’s staff.
