At this year's SIVAL, the CTIFL was once again among the exhibitors supporting the agricultural sector by showcasing its latest products and research. In response to the growing challenges faced by farmers—climate change, rising production costs, and a shrinking list of approved active substances—CTIFL launched, for the first time in its history, a "Tour de France of Alternatives." This initiative highlighted 15 alternative solutions currently being tested across 12 regional experimentation stations. These practical applications target specific pests affecting key crops such as apples, chestnuts, hazelnuts, cherries, garlic, cucurbits, carrots, cabbages, leeks, strawberries, and onions.
"The goal is to show plant industry professionals that concrete research initiatives are underway to address the withdrawal of plant protection products from the market. In today's context—marked by climate change and increasing health pressures—it is a combination of solutions that will compensate for the loss of any single product," explains Jean-Marc Goachet, Head of Scientific and Technical Communication at CTIFL.
PAUPFL: Urgent solutions for an immediate crisis
These efforts are being implemented through various programs, including the Plan Alternatives d'Urgence Phytosanitaire Fruits et Légumes (PAUPFL), designed as an emergency response to the disappearance of active plant protection substances. "The objective is to provide short-term solutions that allow continued production. These solutions must be deployed quickly to match the urgency of the situation," explains Goachet. The program focuses on developing alternatives for 16 critical active substances, using techniques such as inoculum reduction, biocontrol products, physical methods—like protective nets against Drosophila suzukii—and biological solutions. The goal is to provide producers with operational alternatives within three years. Funded by the French Ministry of Agriculture and the Interprofession Fruits et Légumes, these actions are carried out by specialized regional research stations.
PARSADA: A systemic approach for long-term alternatives
Alongside PAUPFL, the PARSADA program has been created to develop sustainable, long-term solutions. "This program takes a systemic approach, considering the complex interactions within agricultural systems. It brings together all industry stakeholders, including research institutes, institutions, and farmers," explains Goachet. This dual approach—immediate solutions via PAUPFL and long-term strategies via PARSADA—is critical to increasing the share of French-grown fruits and vegetables consumed domestically. The aim is to reach 60% food sovereignty by 2035, a 10% increase from current levels.
AI and natural predation to combat pests
In parallel with its Tour de France of Alternatives, CTIFL also used SIVAL as a platform to present cutting-edge solutions for pest management. A dedicated tunnel was set up to demonstrate innovations while also addressing energy concerns. "We leveraged SIVAL to showcase two innovations from Biobest, a key partner in our pest control research programs: the Entomatic crop aid dispenser, which ensures uniform distribution of beneficial organisms for natural pest control, and the Trap Eye connected trap, which utilizes artificial intelligence to monitor and count pests. These alternatives harness natural predation, robotics, and AI to provide effective, sustainable pest control solutions."
For more information :
CTIFL
Jean-Marc Goachet
jean-marc.goachet@ctifl.fr