Bayer CropScience and Janssen Pharmaceutica nv, Beerse, Belgium, have concluded a multi-year research agreement to develop new

SEPTORIA STILL A PROBLEM FOR CEREAL GROWERS

Effective control of Septoria tritici in wheat crops remains a key challenge to European farmers. So much so that Bayer CropScience hosted a conference focused on Septoria disease control on 31 March at the Cité des Sciences et de l’industrie in Paris. Six hundred delegates, mainly distributors and large-scale French farmers, were invited to discuss progress in research and the latest control measures. Septoria is now the most common and devastating disease of cereal crops in France and it is becoming increasingly resistant to certain fungicides. The latest market research shows that 33% of farmers in France are dissatisfied with the options available for controlling the disease.
Among the highlights of the conference were presentations given by experts from a number of French agricultural organisations such as INRA (French National Institute for Agricultural Research), Arvalis (Technical Institute of Applied Research in Agriculture) and Passion Cereales (Cereal Association). Their presentations focused on the complex relationships between plants, the disease, and fungicidal activity. Scientists also emphasised the importance of applying the right product at just the right time and at the right dose rate. Thierry Gestat, head of cereal fungicide at Bayer CropScience, said: “Our recommendations are based on solid scientific evidence. We hope the conference has made a major contribution to communicating and confirming this to the agricultural community.”

New fungicides less sensitive

In Ireland new research at Teagasc Crops Research Centre, Oak Park, Carlow (www.teagasc.ie) has found that current strategies to control Septoria tritici may be under threat. Recently strains of Septoria tritici have been found in some crops that are less sensitive to the fungicide Proline (prothioconazole) in the laboratory than any previously tested. These strains also show a reduction in sensitivity to Opus (epoxiconazole). Dr Eugene O’ Sullivan, plant pathologist at Oak Park, said: “It is not clear if these changes will affect fungicide performance in the field this year but fungicides should be used in a way that will reduce selection pressure. Triazole fungicides should not be used in T0 (pre-T1) sprays. In subsequent sprays, prothioconazole and epoxiconazole should only be used in pre-formulated mixtures or tank mixes with partner fungicides with different modes of action.”
The triazole group of fungicides has been the mainstay of cereal disease control for three decades. The strobilurins which were popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s quickly succumbed to developing resistance in 2003. Growers have relied on triazole fungicides for most of their disease control since then. “We need to do all that we can to avoid any reduction in the efficacy of triazole fungicides,” stated Dr O’ Sullivan. This new development is a cause for major concern, according to Professor Jimmy Burke, head of Teagasc Crops Research Centre. He said: “It is not clear how the shift in insensitivity will affect disease control by prothioconazole in the coming growing season. Intensive monitoring of the evolving fungicide sensitivity situation will continue at Oak Park. Researchers will monitor developments in the field as the season progresses, testing the efficacy of the fungicide in crops. In the meantime, growers are advised to choose fungicide strategies wisely.”
Previous studies by scientists at Oak Park have shown a reduction in sensitivity of Septoria to the triazole fungicides Folicur (tebuconazole) and Caramba (metconazole) but not to Opus and Proline. “Growers are warned to be vigilant,” said Professor Burke.

Manufacturers respond

BASF, the manufacturer of epoxiconazole, has responded to the findings by saying its monitoring programme has shown that there has been no shift in the sensitivity of Septoria isolates in the UK and Ireland to epoxiconazole. The company believes that the Teagasc recommendation to limit the number of applications of epoxiconazole is inappropriate. BASF says it supports the existing label recommendations for the use of Opus and all BASF co-formulated products containing BASF epoxiconazole including its two new fungicides Enobe (epoxiconazole + prochloraz) and Brutus (epoxiconazole + metconazole). Bayer describes the prothioconazole findings as highly surprising and at odds with its long-term data sets. “Teasgasc findings were based on in-vitro testing. Consequently we consider any claims for impact on field performance are based on extrapolation, which can be misleading,” the company said in a press

release. “It is our view that further work is required to confirm the relevance of these preliminary observations for field performance in Ireland. There is no evidence for similar isolates in the UK or elsewhere in Europe.”

UK cereal adviser, Bill Clarke, director of the Brooms Barn Research Station, also sees no reason to alter strategies. He said that there is the need to interpret the results cautiously until they can be replicated by other organisations. “If there were real shifts in sensitivity of the levels suggested by Teagasc we would see it in field performance - and we have not. In terms of advice I would say no change. I would still use prothioconazole and epoxiconazole in mixture with chlorothalonil and boscalid to form the basis of any Septoria programme.”

THE FOOD MARKET IN TURMOIL

The annual conference of the Chartered Institute of Marketing - Food, Drink and Agriculture (CIM FDA) Group entitled The Food Market in Turmoil – strategies for survival and growth was held in London on April 23^rd. The conference addressed several of the global and national issues that are affecting food supply and marketing as a result of the volatility of raw material prices, and changes in consumer purchasing patterns (www.cim.co.uk). Bruce Knight reports.
Iain Ferguson, group chief executive, Tate & Lyle plc, opened the conference by quoting an observation made by the 18^th century economist, Adam Smith: “The least mobile capital makes least profit”. This he said is why the farmer makes the least profit in the food chain and the supermarkets make most. He also explained how water availability is the key limiting factor in farm profitability in many regions. This is reflected by land prices in California. Land without water extraction rights can sell for as little as 50 cents an acre whereas land with water extraction can sell at $1500-2000. Mr Ferguson also gave some reasons why GM technology had so far failed in Europe. He put much of the lack of acceptance down to misuse of language. The use of terms such as “somaclonal” and “agrobacterium” associated with food has been a major deterrent. In summary his observation for success in food marketing is to give customers what they want and in the long term to spread the benefits between capital, labour and the customer.
Patrick Tomlinson, head of agriculture, HSBC Bank plc, painted a somewhat negative picture of the UK and European farming sector. He explained how the consumer market value of food in the UK in 2008 was £112 billion compared with £50 billion in 1988. However at primary producer level the value was unchanged at £14 billion. In 2008, UK farm profits had risen by around 36% over that for 2007, to £3.5 billion. However, of this, £3.2 billion was from subsidies and around £0.75 billion from non agricultural activities. The industry was therefore in effect in a loss situation, and at half the £7.0 billion profit earned in 1997. On the positive side, against an asset of £180 billion the debt level of the farming industry at £12 billion is relatively low. Longer term, with increased global demand for food the industry should benefit. However Mr Tomlinson warned against the European farming industry making the assumption that it would automatically benefit. The combination of high production costs and political factors may get in the way.
Dr Julian Little, chair of the Agricultural Biotechnology Council, reviewed the status of GM crops and food. In an admission that the biotech industry had got things wrong over the last ten years, he recognised that more thought should have been put into responding to the wide variety of issues that the failed attempts to introduce GM food had brought to the surface: anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, anti-globalisation, pro-organics, environmental issues etc. The criticism that GM crops are mainly grown by large scale farming enterprises was countered by the fact that globally the 120 million hectare of GM crops are grown by 13 million farmers, an average of less than 10 hectares each. Furthermore China has demonstrated that it is not only commercial companies that have brought the crops to the market. Based on public sector R & D a wide range of crops are now grown in China and in 2009 or 2010 wheat and rice will be added to the list. China is no longer waiting for pre-registration in the EU before introducing new GM crops.
Consumer attitude to GM is still relatively negative in the UK. An Institute of Grocery Distribution survey carried out in October 2008 showed that 49% of consumers are concerned about GM food, but an increasing proportion, 40%, are not concerned. There is recognition of the value of GM crops, however, with 51% agreeing that they can contribute to meeting global food needs and only 11% disagreeing. Dr Little referred to the pending arrival of soya crops with high omega 3 content in the US. Submission for registration will be made later in 2009 or early 2010. However he could not see this health promoting crop gaining acceptance in the EU unless there are radical changes in the regulatory system.
Richard Beldam, chairman of Openfield, put a strong case for closer collaboration along the food chain. Openfield is a farmer co-operative and one of the UK’s largest grain traders. He gave examples of how close links between farmers, processors and bread companies (Warburtons) or brewers (Coors) can lead to a more secure and equitable sharing of the profits and risk.

John Giles, Promar and chairman of CIM FDA, recognised that the increasing influence of the BRIC countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China), means that the UK and EU have to think outside of the box and come forward with innovative marketing concepts. The trend towards local branding, fair-trade or organics may slow up the overall move to lower food prices but in Mr Giles’ view will not go away.

Ed Garner was representing the TNS World Panel, a global market research panel measuring consumer purchasing and consumption behaviour. He described the gains being made by the discount stores, Aldi and Lidl, in the UK which he said was the result of lower pricing and more stores opening. Tesco’s leading position is slowing down but only marginally with a market share of 30.8% down to 30.4% in the last quarter. Market research shows that consumers are in favour of locally produced food although Mr Garner questioned whether consumers in reality would pay the premium that they say they would.