Published on 17/02/2023
Cultivation for Compounds (CfC) is a consortium dedicated to a four-year research and advocacy program focused on cannabis cultivation. For more in-depth information about this project, please check this article. One of the fifteen companies involved in the project is the Biobest Group. A Belgian company with 24 subsidiaries and over 120 distributors in nearly 70 countries. Biobest specialises in pollination and biocontrol, concentrating on biological control in cannabis cultivation for CfC.
In this article, we interview Juliette Pijnakker, Senior R&D Specialist at Biobest Group, about their involvement in the CfC project.
Juliette shares insights on:
Why did Biobest choose to join the Cultivation for Compounds (CfC) consortium?
How is the project progressing so far?
What challenges have they encountered?
What Biobest is currently researching?
What their ultimate goal is within the project?
Juliette started the discussion with an explanation of the involvement of Biobest in the CfC. “Large-scale cannabis cultivations are new for the Netherlands. However, it has been for us a booming business abroad in recent years. Most of our biocontrol strategies were developed for vegetable crops and later tailored for ornamentals. We now have to reinvent them for pesticide-free, high-tech cannabis crops,” Juliette mentioned.
Biobest focuses strongly on innovation. “We’re constantly developing new beneficials and concepts to set ourselves apart from other companies,” Juliette explains. “That is why CfC is a huge opportunity for us. We innovate in pest control, and we collaborate with partners who are experts in their respective fields. Of course, we hold many discussions to maintain agreements and sometimes make compromises. But the consortium runs very smoothly, we meet weekly, and all parties share their input until we reach a solution that satisfies everyone.”
Biocontrol strategies in cannabis vary by country, depending on pest pressure, local pesticide regulations, and the registration of biological agents. “In the Netherlands, I will expect a high pest pressure in cannabis in the future due to the high concentration of greenhouses and their proximity”.
Juliette emphasised the importance of conducting research in dedicated research stations. “When we run trials at growers’ facilities, we face limitations. We can’t risk introducing pests or diseases, and we can’t maintain untreated plots.”
Focusing on the research Biobest Group is currently conducting at the CfC, Juliette mentioned that they are testing IPM strategies and studying the biological control of powdery mildew in more detail. “Powdery mildew can be a huge problem for cannabis cultivation, so this is our first goal. Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture and Flower Bulbs identified the powdery mildew on our plants as Golovinomyces cichoracearum.” Therefore, by the end of the project, Biobest aims to achieve a solution for growers that will enable them to avoid sulfur use. “Sulfur has a negative impact on most beneficials and can also be problematic for the workers and greenhouse structures.”
Biobest does not have a ready-in-advance plan for all 16 cycles, and according to Juliette, the reason for this is that “we are deciding on the following trials step-by-step after analysing the results of the previous trials, trying to improve the concept further.” Now, the 4th cultivation cycle is starting, and the focus remains on powdery mildew, as well as the general IPM cultivation strategy.
With CfC, Biobest has the opportunity to test its products and gather precise data regarding cannabis, not only about Powdery mildew. It will help the company to fine-tune the complete biological control strategy for this crop. “We have a clear idea of how we would like to manage pests and diseases in cannabis in the Netherlands, thanks to the expertise of our colleagues from abroad, but sometimes unexpected results can bring up surprising discoveries. I am confident that at the end of the project, we will come up with a strong strategy.”
*Cultivation for Compounds is partly funded by the PPS surcharge for research and innovation from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate.