International Day of Plant Health: cutting-edge plant pest management in Russia

The lady in the white lab coat with VNIIKR, abbreviated name of the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Centre, written on the back is using tweezers to carefully select the subject of her visual examination, which came from a plastic bag, and is inspecting each grain separately.

This seemingly outdated yet effective way is used to identify the presence of unwelcome guests, that is, insect pests, in the grain shipment. Such invaders are not frequent but are still sometimes found, says Galina Bondarenko, Head of the Testing Laboratory Centre, who conducted the “first round” of the familiarization tour for the delegation of the informal agricultural diplomatic club set up within the Moscow diplomatic corps with the facilitation of the FAO Liaison Office with the Russian Federation.  

“Every year, around 250 million containers with goods including plant products move between countries, which poses significant biosecurity risks. In addition, about 80% of internationally traded cargoes have wooden packaging that can be a source of pest spread,” corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Evgeny Nazin, Director of the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Centre, explained the expediency of these procedures. “The global annual economic damage from pests exceeds USD 220 billion.”

he information visit of agricultural attachés of embassies and international organizations accredited in Moscow from 20 foreign states to VNIIKR, which is located in Bykovo settlement near Moscow, was timed to coincide with the International Day of Plant Health.

Evgeny Nazin emphasized that there is a good reason for “international plant protection measures coming to the forefront nowadays. In the field of food security, direct and open global cooperation and mutual recognition of national and international standards, such as International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs), are more important than anywhere else.”

This year the All-Russian Plant Quarantine Centre turns 90 years old. Thanks to scientific traditions and the most up-to-date laboratory equipment, VNIIKR has become a coordination centre that brings together researchers and specialists from various scientific departments focusing their efforts on ensuring not only phytosanitary but also food security.

VNIIKR comprises the head institute in Bykovo settlement near Moscow and 17 branches across the country that carry out all types of phytosanitary examinations currently known to science as well as a wide range of specialized studies of plant products, including GMOs. Every year, VNIIKR specialists take part in developing and updating over forty draft diagnostic protocols as part of expert groups of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO).

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“For the purposes of identification and diagnostics of various pests, including non-quarantine ones, and in order to take measures to localize outbreaks of quarantine pests, we prepare analytical statements and reports, as well as letters on international issues. This area of our work is directly connected with Rosselkhoznadzor,” said Konstantin Kornev, Deputy Director of VNIIKR.

“Another area is scientific activity, the development of diagnostic test systems and diagnostic methods,” Konstantin Kornev continued. “The third aspect is related to biological plant protection, allowing for effective measures when chemicals are prohibited from use.”

“Over the past 7 years, we have focused on creating biopesticides to control plant diseases (disease caused by Monilinia, fructicola). The use of biopesticides will make it possible to combat all types of diseases, which is aimed at reducing the chemical load or overcoming resistance in protected ground.” 

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The foreign diplomats visited the main testing laboratory centre, a repository of a unique sample collection, and a pheromone synthesis laboratory.

“The use of pheromones for quarantine purposes is very efficient and cost-effective since it allows one to rapidly determine the presence of an invasive insect over a large area. This is done at the very early stages of detection, when the number of insects is still small, and the methods of localizing and eradicating the outbreak can be effectively applied,” Nikolay Todorov, Head of the pheromone synthesis and application department, told the guests.

The department produces pheromones for 70 insect species, 30 of which are quarantine ones. The guests were shown a stand with various types of traps for catching moths, beetles, bugs, and other crawling and flying insects.

Nikolay Todorov disclosed the tricks of his trade and explained the method, “One trap per 2–5 hectares is set. The period of the insect emergence, when they mate, is determined. First instar larvae appear in 5 to 7 days after the mating. Treatment with insecticides during this period is effective because they do not have time to hide, burrow into the fruit, into the tree, into the trunk, and they do not have any resistance. All these factors combined make it possible to reduce the use of insecticides by 2–2.5 times and, as a result, increase the yield by up to 30%.”

Another method in use is the “sexual disorientation” when up to 1000 dispensers are placed across the territory of 1 hectare, and they release such a large volume of the pheromone that “the insects simply cannot find each other. Therefore, there is no mating and no progeny.”

The expert added that pheromones could also be applied in agriculture to receive clean products because they “are environmentally friendly for all other species of animals and plants as well as for humans. This allows one to use them and produce eco-friendly products by various means.” 

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The Centre also grows “high-quality bumblebees”, as Anton Shundeev, chief beekeeper at VNIIKR, puts it.

“Why bumblebees? First, we know how to grow them. There is a task to ensure high-quality artificial pollination. It is a part of a comprehensive approach to plant protection, including from quarantine insects. The best natural protection is biological one, together with biological production methods,” Anton Shundeev, who spoke to the audience in English, explained the rationale behind this specialisation of the Centre.

“All over the world, chemical products and pesticides are becoming less effective due to the increased resistance of pests, including quarantine ones, to them,” the expert continued. “When quarantine pests get to our territory, they are often already resistant to pesticides. For example, western flower thrips, which is brought with flowers from the Netherlands, Ecuador, some African and South American countries, is treated with various pesticides. As a result, thrips control becomes very difficult.

Our Centre develops modern agricultural production technologies. We work, in particular, with artificial pollination using bumblebees. We have our own specialized premises and a unique feed recipe for them.

Moreover, our plant protection Centre develops cutting-edge technologies for agricultural production, including protection from quarantine pests and ensuring proper pollination. Currently, this method is primarily applied in greenhouses for growing tomatoes and cucumbers. In Russia, popular cultivars of cucumbers are low-growing and uneven in shape and mainly require artificial pollination.”

Bumblebees are perfect for this purpose because, according to Anton Shundeev, “they are not affected by sunlight or local climate conditions, and are less susceptible to chemical exposure than regular bees.” 

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“I think the colleagues will agree that VNIIKR, as we have realized, is an innovative centre with a creative approach to plant protection that constantly strives to improve its work following the latest technologies and scientific methods, both in Russia and around the world,” Aghasi Harutyunyan, Deputy Director of the Moscow FAO Office, noted while expressing his gratitude.

“VNIIKR is a professional institution,” Aghasi Harutyunyan continued. “It employs highly qualified specialists committed to achieving common goals, the main one being the eradication of hunger. We have also noted the strategic importance of the institute, the work of which is very significant for agriculture and rural development, both in Russia and in other countries, which affects the sustainability and prosperity of the agricultural sector.

We have enjoyed looking at the process of synthesis, the production of pheromone traps, and the bumblebee boxes that you have presented to us. All this is aimed at developing agriculture and solving its current challenges that are directly related to the greening of agriculture.

The outcomes and products created by VNIIKR are distinguished by their high quality and compliance with international standards of science and innovation. We have been convinced of this during our visit,” Aghasi Harutyunyan concluded, expressing gratitude to the leadership of VNIIKR for the warm welcome and informative tour of the Centre on behalf of the trip participants. 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The International Day of Plant Health aims to raise awareness among everyone on the planet of how plant health protection can help eradicate hunger, reduce poverty, protect biodiversity and the environment, and accelerate economic development.

Plants are life. We depend on them for 80% of the food we eat and 98% of the oxygen we breathe. However, international movement of people and trade are causing the introduction and spread of plant pests.

Invasive pest species are one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss and threaten the delicate web of life that sustains our planet. Pests and diseases have also been associated with climate warming that creates new niches for pests to populate and spread. In response, the use of pesticides could increase, which harms pollinators, natural pest enemies and organisms crucial for a healthy environment.

Protecting plant health by promoting environmentally friendly practices such as integrated pest management is essential. Applying International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPMs) in international trade also helps prevent the introduction and transboundary spread of plant pests.