Timeline

The original legacy company of Bioline AgroSciences Ltd was founded in 1979 in Colchester, England. In 1990 another production and distribution site was opened in California, United States. The company was purchased by Ciba-Geigy AG in December 1992 and became a wholly owned subsidiary in 1995.

 

After the merger of Ciba and Sandoz in 1996, the company became known as Novartis BCM Limited. In 1999, a new site in Little Clacton, England was purchased and customised for insect production to cope with the increase in demand for beneficial insects. In November 2000, Novartis spun off its agricultural business to merge with Zeneca Agrochemicals to form Syngenta. Novartis BCM became known as Syngenta Bioline in January 2001.

 

In the meantime, Biotop was created in the 80’s, following a partnership with the French National Institute of Research (INRA) which started in the 70’s. Biotop developped then a full range of products for professional users, but also setted up a special range of beneficials for hobby gardeners.

 

In March 2016 the Bioline business was acquired by InVivo and Bioline AgroSciences was born with the merge with Biotop.

 

In January 2019, Bioline Agrosciences and Biocolor created a joint-venture in Almeria, Spain, called Bioline Iberia.

 

In may 2019, Bioline Iberia was officially inaugurated with the presence of all the representatives of the region.

ICM

Introduction

Integrated Crop Management (ICM) is a pragmatic approach to the production of crops. This can include such things as IPM, soil, social and environmental management. The approach to ICM is aiming to combine all aspects of crop inputs and management to achieve the needs of the producer and consumer.
Bioline are producers of beneficial insects and mites and focus mainly on high value crops such as vegetables, fruit and flowers.
Bioline AgroSciences has invested in extensive development trials for the use of ICM programmes in many different crops grown under varying production systems and climates. Each year further trials are conducted to incorporate new products and to take account of changes in pest threats and food retailer demands. The use of biological controls has traditionally been in protected vegetables but more recently their use has increased in fruits, flowers and even field crops. More crops are being added to the list each year.

 

Bioline ICM programmes

We produce natural enemies (beneficial predatory insects and mites) for use in Integrated Crop Management (ICM) programmes which also take into consideration chemical choice, usage and the cropping system.
Any use of natural enemies has to be carefully planned and this requires an understanding each nursery (pests, diseases, cropping systems and rotations, etc.) and its particular problems. The better the understanding of these important parameters, the better the results.
Today, growers are under ever increasing pressure to produce their crops using sustainable methods and approaches. Under an Integrated Crop Management (ICM) approach all actions of production should consider economic, social and environmental impacts of each decision.
When considering pest and disease control, the use of biological control should be incorporated with physical and chemical controls. Which control to use should be taken as part of an overall management system which incorporates crop monitoring and decision making approaches.

 

What is Biological Pest Control?

Biological Pest Control is using natural organisms such as beneficial predators or parasites, microbial products or plant extracts to control pests and diseases. It has become well established within protected crops and some field crops around the world. Where a biological control approach is taken chemical controls are only used as a last resort.

 

Why use Biological Pest Control?

Pests in protected crops are provided with an ideal environment in which to live and breed, with equable temperatures, humidity and plenty of plant material on which to feed. Such conditions can result in very rapid multiplication of pests which, traditionally, has necessitated regular and routine spray programmes. Intensive programmes have, in turn, often led to the development of ‘super bugs’ – strains that are resistant to some of the active ingredients in chemical sprays. Resistance management is now a critical consideration for professionals throughout the Agricultural sector and biological pest control offers a powerful tool for resistance management strategies.

 

Is Resistance a real threat?

Spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) was the first glasshouse pest to develop resistance in 1949. More recently, leafminers, aphids, whiteflies and thrips have developed resistance to a wide range of chemicals, putting in doubt the continued successful use of some pesticides as a means of control. In recent years pesticide resistance in vegetables, fruit and flower production has developed, very often due to the overuse of chemical controls. As the range of chemical solutions becomes more limited, in part due to increasing regulatory restrictions, the development of resistance to existing controls is an increasing problem faced by growers.

 

So what is the next step?

Contact your local Bioline adviser to discuss how you can take the ICM approach in your crops.

Bioline sites

More information coming soon.