Details of Award
NERC Reference : NE/P010490/1
NEC06052 Multiple stressor effects on biological pest control; improving efficacy in challenging environments.
Training Grant Award
- Lead Supervisor:
- Dr C Svendsen, NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), Pollution (Wallingford)
- Grant held at:
- NERC CEH (Up to 30.11.2019), Pollution (Wallingford)
- Science Area:
- Terrestrial
- Overall Classification:
- Terrestrial
- ENRIs:
- Biodiversity
- Pollution and Waste
- Science Topics:
- Agricultural systems
- Ecology/ecosystem
- Community Ecology
- Ecosystem function
- Population Ecology
- Microorganisms
- Abstract:
- There are significant challenges to meet competing demands for agricultural productivity with sustainable food production on a global scale. Alongside this, growing consumer engagement with the issue of pesticides and a reduction in types of pesticides available to growers, means new, innovative solutions for crop protection are needed. Bio-pesticides are viewed as an integral part of crop protection; many are based on naturally occurring microbial organisms as pathogens that typically target specific pests with little or no environmental impact compared to synthetic pesticides. However, there are key scientific questions regarding how environmental factors and other inputs (such as other plant plant protection products) affect microbial pathogens and their interaction with target host pests. Underpinning this is a fundamental scientific need to understand the ecological interactions occurring between microbes and other toxicants (including other microbial pathogens) in combination. This includes the impact of interactions on microbial efficacy towards target organisms and whether sensitivities to other stressors are affected in non-target organisms (such as naturally occurring, beneficial pathogens of pests), under complex environmental conditions. Recent studies have investigated applying mixture toxicity models from ecotoxicology to invertebrate pathology. This innovative linking has significantly improved understanding of pathogen-pathogen and pathogen-chemical interactions in the research area of disease ecology. This project will further our ability to describe how pathogens interact, using novel experimental designs and data analysis. The aim is to detect and understand positive and negative ecological interactions between microbial pathogens in combination with other microbial and chemical pesticides. Understanding how ecological interactions between co-infecting microbial insect pathogens and other toxicants affects disease progression will provide key knowledge currently lacking for improving the efficacy of biological control in applied situations. The overarching aims of this project are therefore; i) to identify where, and how, pathogens can be combined with chemical pesticides for maximum effects in terms of pest control and ii) to understand how multiple stressors (e.g. environmental contaminants) will impact on these combinations, including under different and varying climatic environments. This will significantly progress the development of integrated control of weeds, pests and diseases with reduced reliance on synthetic chemicals. The project brings together four world-leading organisations that work in parallel to address these scientific problems from fundamental and applied perspectives. This will allow us to address important scientific questions in pathogen ecology that translate directly to critical issues relating to barriers in the uptake of biological insecticides. CEH is the UK's Centre of Excellence for integrated research in terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and this research links innovative work between ecotoxicologists and disease ecologists at CEH. The CASE partner, BASF is a global leader in crop protection and provides expert knowledge of commercial biopesticide production/application, lending strong support through provision of placement opportunities, use of dedicated research facilities, and substantial support for the student. Warwick University have expertise both in applied and fundamental research, being involved in core research projects investigating impacts of climatic stressors within integrated pest management programmes and have excellent policy links. CABI as project partners have extensive expertise delivering biological control programmes directly to end-users within both temperate and tropical environments which ensures potential for societal and economic impact in other countries.
- NERC Reference:
- NE/P010490/1
- Grant Stage:
- Completed
- Scheme:
- DTG - directed
- Grant Status:
- Closed
- Programme:
- Industrial CASE
This training grant award has a total value of £88,292
FDAB - Financial Details (Award breakdown by headings)
| Total - Fees | Total - RTSG | Total - Student Stipend |
|---|---|---|
| £17,296 | £11,000 | £59,998 |
If you need further help, please read the user guide.