Koreans and Dutch join forces to combat bugs

Companies and research organisations from Korea and the Netherlands have joined forces within a consortium to tackle bugs in vegetables and fruit in South Korea in a sustainable manner. The parties involved include the National Yeongnam Agricultural Experimental Station (YARI) and the Gyeongsang National University (GNSU) from South Korea, and Entocare and Plant Research International (a part of Wageningen UR) from the Netherlands. The partnership officially got underway on 26 May 2005 in Korea. At the request of South Korean research institutes, the consortium will be looking for new, sustainable solutions for the control of plague insects using pheromones, natural enemies and combinations of both. The research will examine the options for reliable, effective and environmentally friendly management strategies. The specific research is aimed at finding a lasting solution for the damage being caused to key export fruit and vegetables crops. The group of insects to be studied is having a considerable impact both in South East Asia and in Europe, and the study is financed by South Korea and the Netherlands. Senter Novem, an agency of the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, will finance the major part of the project costs.