BACKGROUND TO THE DUTCH GUIDELINES FOR INTEGRATED FRUIT PRODUCTION (IFP)

Integrated pest control has been practiced in The Netherlands since the early eighties. It first began at the Schuilenburg in 1960 with the idea of finding a long-term solution for red spider problems. By placing shoots with Typhlodromus Pyri, which were resistant to carbamates and phosphoresters, in each apple tree, red spider and rust spider were controlled. This system, since developed into a more practical pest control system, is now an important part of integrated fruit production.

When, in 1990, international IFP guidelines were proposed at Lana, Italy, the Dutch Fruitgrowing Association (NFO) formed a committee in order to interpret these guidelines for Dutch conditions. This committee was comprised of delegates from research, the auctions, growers and advisers. The committee eventually formulated guidelines for Dutch growers. The initiative is supported by the Dutch government whose policies are to promote integrated systems of pest control, so reducing the number and amounts of agrochemicals used.

The guidelines have a descriptive part, in which methods of growing apples and pears in an environmentally friendly way are suggested. These recommendations will be described and discussed.

In addition to the descriptive part of the guidelines there are also lists of chemicals suitable for apples and pears grown under IFP. Those chemicals which can be considered the most unfriendly, environmentally, have been left out of the lists and others, such as acaricides, may only be used during the first year after starting the system.

The grower is permitted to use up to a maximum amount per hectare of every listed insecticide, acaricide and herbicide. This amount is considered to be sufficient to give adequate control of pests, diseases and weeds.

Growth regulators can sometimes be useful in reducing, indirectly, the amounts of pesticides and insecticides used. They are not, therefore, automatically forbidden.

Every participating grower must register his or her use of chemicals and this registration will be controlled. Also, inspections are carried out by the auctions and the auction board. Residue checks on the fruits from each grower will be carried out for one or more chemicals during the season.

In 1991 about 400 growers started using the IFP guidelines and the auctions predict that in 1992 90% of the pears and 40–50% of the apple production in The Netherlands may be produced according to these guidelines.