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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a research team a $6 million grant to find ways to control potato pests without the use of neonicotinoids. The team is made up of entomologists, potato breeders, social scientists, economists and extension specialists across the U.S.
The researchers will test commercially available and experimental non-neonicotinoid insecticides and evaluate how effectively they control key pests and how friendly they are to beneficial insects and the environment. The project also includes plans to create an interactive map to help growers predict when crops will be at risk of pest pressure. In addition, the research team will work to develop and test potato cultivars that are resistant to insects.
The grant provides funding for three years with the possibility of additional funds to follow.
