1,720,997 research outputs found
Synergies of Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) and Certified Organic Farming for Transformative Change of Agriculture
No full textOrganic farming is a holistic and ambitious way of crop production challenging farmers starting in depleted soils. During the certification process for organic farming, farmers refrain already from using multiple chemicals to boost production, but often they cannot yet gain the full payment for certified organic production. Assumed income loss can limit readiness for organic production. An approach for pollinator protection in low- and middle-income countries, farming with alternative pollinators (FAP) can fill the gap, as the habitat-enhancement measures for pollinators substantially and significantly pay off for farmers in the first year. Planting marketable habitat-enhancement plants attracts higher diversity and abundance of wild pollinators, increasing productivity. The additional plants also attract higher abundance and diversity of natural enemies during a prolonged flowering time. In a large project in smallholder fields in Morocco, they reduced pests on average by 64.8% in main crops. The total net income was, on average, 121% higher than from monocultural control fields. Combination of certified organic agriculture and FAP might accelerate transformative change of agriculture in several aspects
Support Pollinators and Boost Farmers' Incomes with Farming with Alternative Pollinators!
No full textFarming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) boosts crop yield and quality by attracting diverse pollinators and natural pest controllers. This approach integrates marketable habitat enhancement plants (MHEP), nesting, and water support, benefiting farmers in low- and middle-income countries while protecting pollinators
Controlling Aphids and Pod Borer in Food Legumes Using Nano-biopesticides, Fungi, and Intercropping in Morocco
No full textFood legumes are facing major threats from green pea aphids and pod borer which reduce yields in many countries. In addition to direct economic damage, aphids play key roles in transmitting different viruses that emerge in lentil and chickpea growing areas. The level of resistance to these key pests is low so farmers depend on insecticide applications to control these pests. This study validated nano-formulated essential oils (Ocimum basilicum and Origanum vulgare) and entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Verticillium lecanii). Coriander-lentil intercropping, for sustainable pest management. Results from on-station and on-farm trials season showed that nano-formulation of essential oils using chitosan moderately suppressed aphid population. entomopathogenic fungi treatments reduced pod borer populations and improved chickpea yields. In the cropping system areas, coriander intercropping reduces aphid population and enhances natural enemies and pollinator abundance. Integrating nano-formulated essential oils, entomopathogenic fungi, and intercropping with crops that attract natural enemies and repel pests will be effective and sustainable management on aphids and pod borers where resistance is not available in the cultivated gene pool. Moreover, nao-formulation should be given more priority for effective delivery of biopesticides
Effect of Farming with Alternative Pollinators “FAP” on faba bean crop in two different regions
No full textThis study evaluates the effect of Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) approach in faba bean cultivation in Morocco’s Marchouch and Settat regions. This study aims to compare FAP fields—surrounded by different marketable habitat enhancement plants (MHEP) such as coriander, clover, canola, lupinus, sulla and buckwheat, with monoculture faba bean control. The FAP fields showed significantly greater pollinator abundance and diversity. In addition, FAP is an ecologically sustainable strategy for fauna enhancing in different agroecosystems in arid environments such as Settat and Marchouch regions
Farming with alternative pollinators’ approach supports diverse and abundant pollinator community in melon fields in a semi-arid landscape
No full textThe presence of pollinating insects in crop fields is an essential factor for agricultural
production and pollinator conservation. Agricultural intensification has been identified as a driver of pollinator decline over the last decades and challenges the efficiency of pollination. Several approaches are used to support pollinators and their ecosystem services, notably reward-based wildflower strips. ‘Farming with Alternative Pollinators’ (FAP) aims to attract and sustain pollinators using marketable habitat enhancement plants (MHEP) in the field borders instead of wildflowers. These MHEP are selected in conjunction with farmers. We tested here whether the FAP approach increases diversity and abundance of flower visitors in melon fields in a semi-arid landscape in Morocco. Moreover, we examined whether MHEP increase flower-visitor abundance in melon flowers. We recorded a total of 1330 insect specimens including 573 specimens of wild bees. Lasioglossum malachurum was the major flower visitor in melon and several MHEP. As flower-visitor abundance and diversity in FAP fields were higher than in control fields, we conclude that FAP can be a valuable approach for pollinator protection in agro-ecosystems; 16.5% of wild bees and wasps showed spillover from the field borders to the melon fields
Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) in large scale fields
No full textThis brochure is for large-scale farmers producing in monocultures. We show fields and field results from three regions with different climate: Settat (semi-arid, 90% of arable land is covered with cereals), Sidi Slimane (sub-humid, fruits and vegetables) and Ksar El-Kebir (mediterranean climate, producing mainly melon and sugarcane).
The three regions are rich in bee fauna, but the intensive agriculture might reduce their diversity and abundance hampering agriculture in the near future
Beyond biodiversity: does “Farming with Alternative Pollinators” also boost farmers’ income in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) fields? a case study in Morocco
No full textThe importance of flower visitors for ecosystem resilience and crop production underscores the need to address the current decline of flower visitors worldwide. Farming Alternative Pollinators (FAP), economic and ecological benefits of fields hosting various marketable habitat enhancement plants, developed for flower visitors protection in low- and middle-income countries, showed multiple benefits for farmers of pollinator-dependent crops, but potential benefits of FAP for production of pollinator-independent crops have not yet been assessed. Therefore, we conducted in 2021 FAP trials with wheat (Triticum aestivum) as the main crop in two regions of Morocco where cereals are mainly grown in monocultures in field sizes ranging from 2 to 5 ha. We tested the effects of fields adding marketable habitat enhancement plants (MHEP; coriander and canola) versus control fields on pests, natural enemies, flower visitors, and net income. We found significantly lower abundance and diversity of pests in wheat fields using MHEP, but no effect on natural enemy presence or net income. The strips of MHEP attracted a high number of flower visitors in both regions (Settat and Sidi Slimane), they supported flower visitor communities by providing plant resources and alternative habitat in monocultural landscapes extremely degraded for flower visitors
Insects’ and Farmers’ Responses to Pollinator-Related Habitat Improvement in Small and Large Faba Bean Fields in Morocco
No full textNovel agro-ecosystem management practices are necessary to sustain biodiversity. In low- and middle-income countries, profitable marketable habitat enhancement plants (MHEPs) associated with a single main crop may be more efficient at supporting insect diversity and farmer income compared to monoculture fields. An approach known as “Farming with Alternative Pollinators” (FAP), which uses marketable habitat enhancement plants, was tested in Morocco. To date, the FAP approach has achieved success in fields measuring approximately 300 square meters, supporting the diversity and abundance of pollinators, natural enemies of pests, and farmer net income. However, the question remains: how efficient would this approach be in large fields of one hectare or more? We present a case study conducted using faba bean as the main crop and compared the development of the FAP approach in 300 square meter and one-hectare fields in Morocco. At the field level, compared to the control fields (i.e., monoculture), the diversity and abundance of pollinators and natural enemies were higher in FAP fields of both field sizes, but the difference was less in large fields. The difference in net income (108% vs. 36% in small vs. large fields) was significant, indicating a potential incentive for the farmers of small and large fields. A questionnaire conducted with farmers confirmed their recognition of the value of marketable habitat enhancement plants as a cost-efficient solution that can offer multiple benefits
Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) in mountainous regions
No full textThis brochure advises farmers in mountainous regions how to protect wild pollinators and increase simultaneously farmers’ incomes. The brochure shows what is needed in this agro-ecosystem to sustain pollinator diversity and abundance. Several important pollinators are presented, including their favorite crops, which they pollinate effectively. The brochure describes the nests they build and what kind of simple, low-cost support farmers can provide to benefit more from their services. The brochure shows FAP-planting schemes for some important field crops in this ecosystem including seeding times and best responding cultivar. Based on the examples, farmers can learn the FAP approach and develop such diversified planting schemes themselves for more crops.
The brochure is available in English and Arabic
“Farming with alternative pollinators” provides benefits also in large-scale fields
No full textInsect pollinators are declining worldwide due to many challenges and several approaches have been implemented to mitigate their loss. Farming with Alternative Pollinators (FAP) uses marketable habitat enhancement plants (MHEP) that yield substantial benefits for farmers from the first year. Studies with small-scale farmers have shown that FAP sustains high diversity and abundance of flower visitors and natural enemies, resulting in significant increases in smallholders' incomes, on average 121% higher. For the first time, we analyzed this approach in large-scale fields. Trials were conducted in 16 farms in two regions of Morocco, Sidi Slimane and Ksar El-Kebir, in 2021. We used melon (Cucumis melo) as the main crop and coriander, anise and sunflower as MHEP and selected in each farm 1 ha as trial area in larger monocultures. We compared FAP and control fields regarding abundance and richness of flower visitors, natural enemies and pests as well as net income of the whole field (1 ha). Flower visitors and natural enemies were significantly more diverse and abundant in FAP fields and there were also fewer pests. Our economic results show 17% higher net income per ha in FAP fields versus control fields in the Ksar El-Kebir region, and 12% higher net income in FAP fields compared to control fields in Sidi Slimane region. Although the mean yield difference was statistically significant, the income difference was not. We suggest more FAP trials are needed in different large-scale fields systems
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