Aphid pressure costs Dutch pepper grower 30 percent of crop

Aphids are currently one of the biggest challenges facing greenhouse horticulture in the Netherlands. The loss of crop protection products and a changing climate are driving the problem. This season, Moors, a bell pepper grower in Asten, in the southern Netherlands, felt the impact directly: around 30 percent of its harvest was lost.

The grower chose to raise awareness by sharing its story in a video message (link in Dutch), which drew considerable support from across the sector. Fellow pepper grower Langenboom also brought its experience with aphids to the media. At the end of the season, the Dutch TV program Hart van Nederland (link in Dutch) visited Moors to bring the aphid issue to the attention of consumers.

"What we experienced this season is not an isolated incident," says Hannie Moors.

At Moors, the team tried everything to save the peppers. Staff removed leaves, adjusted the greenhouse temperature and applied a biological control product. Up to ten times the usual number of natural enemies were also released.

In the Hart van Nederland broadcast, Hannie called for growers to be given more options to intervene during severe outbreaks. Glastuinbouw Nederland, the Dutch greenhouse horticulture organization, said in the program that research into new biological control methods is under way.