Douglas Warner

An international database for pesticide risk assessments and management

ABSTRACT Despite a changing world in terms of data sharing, availability, and transparency, there are still major resource issues associated with collating datasets that will satisfy the requirements of comprehensive pesticide risk assessments, especially those undertaken at a regional or national scale. In 1996, a long-term project was initiated to begin collating and formatting pesticide data to eventually create a free-to-all repository of data that would provide a comprehensive transparent, harmonized, and managed extensive dataset for all types of pesticide risk assessments. Over the last 20 years, this database has been keeping pace with improving risk assessments, their associated data requirements, and the needs and expectations of database end users. In 2007, the Pesticide Properties DataBase (PPDB) was launched as a free-to-access website. Currently, the PPDB holds data for almost 2300 pesticide active substances and over 700 metabolites. For each substance around 300 parameters are stored, covering human health, environmental quality, and biodiversity risk assessments. With the approach of the twentieth anniversary of the database, this article seeks to elucidate the current data model, data sources, its validation, and quality control processes and describes a number of existing risk assessment applications that depend upon it.

Distributions and interactions of the stem miners Psylliodes chrysocephala and Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus and their parasitoids in a crop of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

The within‐field spatio‐temporal distributions and relationships of two pest insects with stem‐mining larvae, Psylliodes chrysocephala (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) and Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsham) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), and their larval endoparasitoids, Tersilochus microgaster (Szépligeti) and Tersilochus obscurator Aubert (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), respectively, were studied in a crop of winter oilseed rape [Brassica napus L. (Brassicaceae)]. The insects were sampled, at different life stages, at 40 spatially referenced points within the oilseed rape in 1998–99 and in the following crop of winter wheat. Distributions were analysed and compared using SADIE (Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs) and by tests of edge distribution. Tersilochus microgaster emerged from overwintering by the end of March and T. obscurator from mid April to mid May 2000. Tersilochus microgaster parasitized 10.8% of P. chrysocephala larvae, peak parasitism occurring in May. The distribution of each species was patchy and irregular. Psylliodes chrysocephala and its parasitoid were closely associated, but new generation C. pallidactylus and T. obscurator were less so, probably because of host mortality caused by the parasitoid. The two host–parasitoid pairs showed distributions that were polarized with respect to each other. The genesis of these spatial patterns is discussed in relation to the influence of wind direction, plant size, and interspecific interactions. The potential of these parasitoids as biocontrol agents in integrated pest management is discussed. Opportunities for conservation biocontrol in oilseed rape offered by spatio‐temporal targeting of insecticides to avoid parasitoids and by reduced soil tillage are examined.

Mapping, characterisation, and comparison of the spatio-temporal distributions of cabbage stem flea beetle (Psylliodes chrysocephala), carabids, and Collembola in a crop of winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus)

The spatio‐temporal distribution of Psylliodes chrysocephala (L.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), a pest of oilseed rape (Brassica napus) (L.) (Cruciferae) and its potential predators, carabid beetles, within a crop of winter oilseed rape is described. The distribution of Collembola, a potential alternative food source for the predators, is also investigated. Insects were collected from spatially referenced sampling points across the crop and the counts mapped, analysed, and the degree of spatial association between the distributions determined using Spatial Analysis by Distance IndicEs (SADIE). Immigration into the crop by adult P. chrysocephala occurred from two edges and resulted in a non‐uniform distribution of the pest within the crop. Infestation of rape plants by P. chrysocephala larvae was greatest within the central area of the crop. Significant spatial association between adult female P. chrysocephala and the larval infestation of plants occurred throughout October. Three carabid species were active and abundant during peak pest immigration into the crop, viz., Trechus quadristriatus (Schrank) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), Pterostichus madidus (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Carabidae), and Nebria brevicollis (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Carabidae). Two of these species, T. quadristriatus and P. madidus, showed significant spatial association with the larvae of P. chrysocephala during October. All three carabid species showed a significant spatial association with Collembola during mid‐September, indicating that the latter may be an important food source for carabids during this period. In laboratory feeding experiments, only T. quadristriatus consumed the eggs of P. chrysocephala suggesting that, in the adult stage, this species may be the most important of the naturally occurring carabids as a predator of P. chrysocephala in the field. Adult T. quadristriatus may be a valuable component of an Integrated Pest Management strategy for winter oilseed rape, and the conservation of this species could be beneficial.

Implications for conservation biocontrol of spatio-temporal relationships between carabid beetles and coleopterous pests in winter oilseed rape

1 The spatio‐temporal distributions of predatory carabid beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) and their potential prey, the larvae of three coleopterous pests, Meligethes aeneus (Fabricius) and Ceutorhynchus spp. [Ceutorhynchus pallidactylus (Marsham), the cabbage stem weevil, and Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Paykull), the cabbage seed weevil], were studied within a crop of winter oilseed rape. The distributions of Collembola were recorded as potential alternative prey. Insect distributions were analysed and compared using Spatial Analysis by Distance Indices.

Adapting to climate change: assessing the vulnerability of ecosystem services in Europe in the context of rural development

Over the past decade, efforts to move towards a low carbon economy have been increasingly coupled with the acknowledgement that we also need to develop climate resilient economies, capable of adapting and responding to changes in climate. To shift society in these directions we need to quantify impacts in relation to these objectives and develop cost-effective interventions. Techniques for quantifying greenhouse gas emissions are relatively well established and enable identification of hotspots where there is emissions reduction potential. However, there are no established techniques to assess and quantify adaptation vulnerability issues and identify hotspots for intervention. This paper presents work undertaken at a European level with the objective of identifying potential hotspots where ecosystem services may be vulnerable to climate change and thus where intervention may be required under the European Rural Development Programme. A pragmatic and relatively simple approach is presented, based on data that is readily available across Europe. The vulnerability assessments cover: Water (quality: dilution and filtration, regulation: flooding and provision); soils (erosion and organic matter); and biodiversity (forest fires, migration and pollination). The framework and assessments presented are considered fit for purpose (at a basic level) and they are potentially valuable tools for targeting limited resources to achieve desirable outcomes. They also contribute towards providing a better understanding of the climate change challenges we face and support the formulation of solutions to optimally address those challenges. There is scope to further improvement and a number of options are discussed and explored within this paper.

Ground Beetles as Predators of Oilseed Rape Pests: Incidence, Spatio-Temporal Distributions and Feeding

Ground beetles or carabids are amongst the most abundant invertebrate predators in fields of oilseed rape in Europe. The immature stages of the six major pests of oilseed rape i.e., cabbage stem flea beetle, pollen beetle, cabbage seed weevil, cabbage stem weevil, rape stem weevil and brassica pod midge, are vulnerable to predation by carabids when they are in or on the soil from mid-September to mid-July. About 42 species of carabid are common in rape fields. The community composition varies between countries, between spring and winter crops and with crop management, as species differ in distribution and habitat requirements. The ten most widespread and dominant species are A. similata, Anchomenus dorsalis, Bembidion lampros, Harpalus affinis, Harpalus rufipes, Loricera pilicornis, Nebria brevicollis, Poecilus cupreus, Pterostichus melanarius and Trechus quadristriatus. A field-scale study found within-field spatio-temporal coincidence of T. quadristriatus and Pterostichus madidus with cabbage stem flea beetle eggs, of A. similata, N. brevicollis and Asaphidion spp. with pollen beetle larvae, and of A. dorsalis with larvae of cabbage stem weevil, cabbage seed weevil and brassica pod midge. Carabid within-field distributions are influenced by their life cycles, habitat preferences, mobility and food availability. Evidence of predation from analysis of gut contents of field-collected individuals and laboratory feeding trials is reviewed in relation to carabid functional morphology, prey size and diel periodicity of activity. Feeding trials suggest that Clivina fossor also has potential as a predator of oilseed rape pests. The implications for biocontrol-based integrated pest management are discussed.

Farm assurance schemes : can they improve farming standards?

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to consider the global activities, highlighting the UK, concerned with farm assurance schemes and associated food labelling seeking to identify their contribution towards improving primary production standards.Design/methodology/approach – A desk study focusing on published literature and historical documentation.Findings – The majority of primary production standards are based upon codes of good practice with only tenuous links between the standards and the required environmental outcomes. Owing to the difficulties of comparing like with like here is little conclusive evidence that such standards are producing environmental benefits.Practical implications – If it depends on assurance schemes to improve farming practices then a European‐wide standard is required that is not compromised by variations in national laws and codes of practice.Originality/value – This review is of academic value and of value to those working to improve primary production standards. It pres...

Carbon accounting tools: are they fit for purpose in the context of arable cropping?

The agricultural sector contributes 9% towards total UK greenhouse gas emissions and so may offer significant potential as a sector to help meet national and international emission reduction targets. In order to help farmers manage their emissions and to encourage more sustainable farming, several carbon accounting tools are now available. This article describes a short study that selected five suitable tools and compared their performance on nine European arable farms, concentrating on the crop production components, to determine how useful they are for assisting in the development of site-specific mitigation strategies and how well they would perform within farm assurance or benchmarking schemes. The results were mixed, with some tools better designed for identifying mitigation opportunities than others. The results also showed that, quantitatively, the results are highly variable between tools and depended on the selected functional unit, this being highly important if the wider aspects of sustainability such as food security are to be considered. However, there is statistical consistency across the tools regarding the ranking order of the farms in terms of their emissions.

A framework for practical and effective eco-labelling of food products

Purpose – The pressure on the food industry and society as a whole to evolve towards more sustainable production and consumption has increased in recent years. There are a number of drivers that can help reduce environmental impacts including legislative instruments, retail marketing and consumer choices and demand. One driver that has received attention recently is the use of product labels, either on a single issue or on multiple issues (using omni‐labelling). The purpose of this paper is to report on a framework that emerged from a wider study exploring effective approaches to environmental labelling of food products.Design/methodology/approach – Techniques for assessing the environmental impacts of food production were reviewed and a consultation was undertaken with industry and consumer experts to ascertain their views (using multi‐criteria mapping) on the practicality and efficacy of environmental labels.Findings – The wider study found that although the science is not sufficiently robust to develop...

The contribution of UK farm assurance schemes towards desirable environmental policy outcomes

This study sought to evaluate the content of a range of UK primary production assurance schemes and their potential to support selected desirable agri-environmental policy outcomes. The schemes reviewed included those that fall under the Assured Food Standards umbrella plus eligible UK equivalents and examples of retailer and supplementary schemes. The assessment was based on scheme documentation (2008/2009), associated published literature and historical comment. The analysis showed that assurance schemes, generally, do not meet all the desired policy outcomes but this should not necessarily be expected or sought. However, such schemes are ideally placed to help the industry respond to changing demands, by changing or raising the scheme standards.