Instead of pesticides, biological control agents – such as parasitic wasps and predatory mites – are used to combat pest insects in 94% of the total greenhouse area in the Netherlands. These figures were published by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) on 12 February. A highlight is that strong increase can be seen in chrysanthemums in particular, rising from 68% to 82%. Adri Bom-Lemstra, Chair of Glastuinbouw Nederland, calls this a positive development. “Through the increasing use of ‘natural enemies,’ growers are making significant strides in greening their crop protection practices, reducing the need for chemical crop protection products.”

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Read the full Dutch press release from Glastuinbouw Nederland here.