Flint®, a new dimension in fungal disease control Flint®, a new ...

stainable agriculture”Summit on Sustainable DevelopmentTechnology development and transferare critical processes for creatingopportunities for sustainableagriculture. One related Bayer casestudy mentioned includes thedevelopment of an insecticide tocombat corn pests for meetingfarmers’ needs in South Africa.Developing controlled-dosedelivery systems and appropriatepackaging sizes for smallholderfarmers are other examples.Smallholder farmers’ needs indeveloping areas must be addressedto promote the goals of povertyalleviation and food securitythrough economic development.Examples include work in Kenyawith a local NGO to help identifyand develop pest control methodsfor pests and diseases of staple foodcrops, such as sorghum, beans andcowpeas, in order to improve yieldsand thus secure the food supply.Crop protection products play a keyrole in farmers’ efforts to protectand enhance the environment byincreasing productivity from existingland rather than bringing newland into agricultural production.Industry-stimulated studies provideinsight into better planning andland management and build on thelong-standing industry commitmentto put sustainable agriculture intopractice by applying integrated cropmanagement (ICM) and integratedpest management (IPM) techniques.All of the case studies identifiedare examples of business activitiesand market approaches designedto meet the economic needs of allinvolved. Creating market opportunitiesis the most sustainableapproach to development, agricultureand business in the long run,because sustainability is easiest toachieve when all stakeholdersbenefit. Industry has infrastructuresin many countries, a lot of expertiseand knowledge, and often thestaying power to bring abouteconomic development – providedof course that the enabling framework,including good governanceand efficient market mechanisms,are in place to allow these efforts tosucceed.A sustainable business approachesencompasses more than just sellingproducts: It provides technologypackages and services, knowledgeand expertise which ensure thatproducts are supplied along withproper support. In this context,capacity building - training andeducation – plays an important rolein our daily business at Bayer. Weare keen to contribute to sustainabledevelopment in our field ofexpertise and are committed tomaintaining open lines of communicationand to seek multi-stakeholderpartnerships. The latter arethe model for the future, becauseno single group can either hold allof the information and skillsrequired or carry out all of thework. ■The publication “Creating Opportunitiesfor Sustainable Agriculture”can be obtained from:CropLife InternationalAvenue Louise 143B-1050 BrusselsBelgiumTel: +32 2 542 0410Fax: +32 2 542 041Email: info@croplife.orgIt can also be found on theCropLife International websitewww.croplife.org.“Let uschoose tounite thepower ofmarkets withthe authorityof universalideals. Let uschoose toreconcile thecreativeforces of private entrepreneurshipwith the needs of the disadvantagedand the requirements of futuregenerations.”Kofi Annan,Secretary-General of the United NationsBayer’s herbicides:Valuable tools in effectivecrop managementAchieving the 2020 Visionin the shadow ofinternational terrorismFlint in pome fruit:Scab specialist with a broadspectrum of actionCourierOnline-News:www.agrocourier.com4Flint, a new dimensionin fungal disease control16Guatemala: Conservingbiodiversity and increasingagricultural productivity aremutually-compatible aimsPublished by: Bayer AG, Bayer CropScience,Monheim / Editors: Dr. Georg Priestel, BernhardGrupp, Kai Kellenberger / Responsible for contents:Dr. Georg Priestel / With contributions from: A.Dollacker, U. Mohan, Ng Kwang Yew, Dr. H. Santel,Dr. A. Witzenberger / Design and production:Bernhard Grupp / Layout: Xpertise, Langenfeld /Litography: Brockhaus & Conrad, Solingen /Printed by: Broermann, Troisdorf / Reproduction ofcontents is permissible providing Bayer is acknowledgedand advised by specimen copy / Editor’saddress: Bayer AG, BayerCropScience, PM-MarketingServices, Alfred-Nobel-Straße 50, D-40789Monheim, Germany, FAX: 0049-2173-383133 /Website: www.bayercropscience.com81220CONTENTSCourier 1/2002

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le tools ineffectivemanagementAn introduction to Bayer’s herbicidesBayer has long been knownin agriculture circles for itscrop protection products.In the past, its particular strengthshave been fungicides and insecticides.Bayleton ® , Bayfidan ® , Folicur® and the recently launchedFlint ® are brands that have demonstratedBayer's expertise in controllingfungal diseases. The activeingredients contained in these productsare triadimefon, triadimenol,tebuconazole and trifloxystrobin,respectively.Bayer's strong position in theinsecticides field started with thedevelopment of phosphoric acidesters such as E 605 ® and Metasystox® R. Beta-cyfluthrin, thepyrethroid that is the active substancein Bulldock ® , is the answerto a wide range of problems affectingmany crops, and is effective atrelatively low rates. Imidacloprid,sold as Gaucho ® and Confidor ® , istoday the world's top-selling insecticide,registered in more than 120countries for use in over 140 crops.It is often forgotten that Bayer alsooffers a respectable range of versatileherbicide products, based ontwelve different active substancesthat work in four different ways.The history of Bayer's herbicidesincludes successful brands likeGoltix ® and Sencor ® along withsome more recent introductions.The newer arrivals include herbicidescontaining the new active substanceflufenacet, alongside Mikado ® ,Attribut ® and Everest ® . This articledescribes just what Bayer has tooffer.Sencor – a well-establishedproduct with a promisingfutureMetribuzin, the active substance inSencor, belongs to the triazinonesgroup of chemicals and works byinhibiting photosynthesis. It isabsorbed via the soil and throughthe leaves, so it can be used bothbefore and after weed emergence.When Sencor was launched in the1970s, it revolutionised weedcontrol in soya bean crops. Thiswell-proven basic herbicide is nowregistered in 101 countries for use in76 different crops, including potato,soya bean, vegetables and sugarcane.One of the main advantages ofSencor is its versatility, whether it isused alone or as part of a multiproductspraying programme. Fromthis point of view, it is superior tomany rival products. Its widespectrum of action against broadleavedand grass weeds and its suitabilityfor use together with otherproducts are qualities that farmerscontinue to appreciate. Producedand used with the know-how thatBayer has built up over the years,Sencor offers users consistently highquality.Goltix – two decadesof outstanding safetyand qualityFor more than 20 years, Goltix hasbeen one of Bayer's most successfulproducts. Used mainly in sugar beetbut also in soft fruit, Goltix hasbecome the standard product forcontrolling black nightshade, commonchickweed, goosefoot,camomile, violets and annual bluegrass.Goltix contains metamitron,another member of the triazinonefamily. It also acts via the soil andthrough the leaves and can be usedboth before and after emergence.The Goltix 700 SC and Goltix 70WG formulations have proved themost commercially popular.However, the example of Goltixshows clearly that even tried andtested commercial products can befurther improved. Using modernformulation techniques, Bayer hasbeen able to make Goltix evenmore effective. The new formulation,Goltix 90 WG, has alreadybeen registered and launched inseveral European countries. Themain advantages are its concentratedaction and ease of use. It ispresented in an innovative granularform, allowing for dust-free andtherefore safer and more economicalapplication.This new development can besummed up as follows: More activeingredient. More surface area. Moresugar beet.“Power by FOE”Flufenacet (FOE 5043) belongs tothe oxyacetamide group of chemicals.This substance was first synthesisedin 1988, and after a decade ofcomprehensive testing, the firstcommercial product was launchedin 1998. Flufenacet has a broadspectrum of action. It effectivelycontrols important grass weeds,including various species of millet.It also has a considerable secondaryeffect on dicotyledenous weeds suchas cleavers (catchweed). Anotheradvantage of flufenacet is that it canbe applied to a wide range of crops,Courier 1/20025

Valuable tools insuch as maize, soya bean, potato,cereals, rice and peanut. Flufenacetis absorbed mainly through theroots, or by the newly sproutedseed, inhibiting cell division in theseparts of the plant. This stops theweed from extending, and theplants either fail to emerge or donot develop further.Flufenacet is an ideal partner foruse in combination with otheractive substances, so that the specialneeds of individual crops can beproperly met. Artist ® , Axiom ® ,Epic ® , Domain ® , Drago ® , Herold ®and Terano ® are the brands containingflufenacet. The table oppositeshows how the various combinationsare used.The two youngsters:Attribut and EverestIn the early 1990s, Bayer discovereda new class of molecules that act ina new way to effectively controlgrass weeds and broad-leavedweeds. Flucarbazone-sodium andpropoxycarbazone-sodium aremembers of the sulphonylaminocarbonyl triazolinones groupand inhibit acetolactate synthase(ALS inhibitors).Flucarbazone-sodium was successfullylaunched under the tradename Everest® in North Americain spring 2000. The product offerswheat growers a simple, environmentallyacceptable and economicalsolution to problem weed grasses.The two grass weeds that are hardestto control in summer wheatcrops are wild oats (Avena fatua)and green foxtail (Setaria viridis).These two weeds entered NorthAmerica in contaminated seed shipmentsand have been giving cerealfarmers a headache for over acentury. They cause serious yieldlosses because they can competestrongly with the crop.Thanks to its novel mechanism ofaction, including uptake throughleaves and soil, flucarbazonesodiumcan be applied much earlierthan active substances used in thepast. This means that weed grassescan be controlled before they startto compete with the crop.Flucarbazone-sodium also brokenew ground in reducing applicationrates and the risk to the user associatedwith application. Just 30 g ofactive substance per ha is enough toachieve effective control. Theproduct is packed in water-solublebags which are easy for users tohandle and eliminate time-consumingmeasuring out.Everest has now been successfullyintroduced in Canada, the UnitedStates, Kazakhstan and Chile. Inthe future, farmers in the MiddleEast, Turkey, Russia and China willalso be able to enjoy the benefits ofEverest.Propoxycarbazone-sodium (productname: Attribut ® ) is the latest herbicidalactive substance to emergefrom Bayer's research pipeline. It isa selective herbicide which controlsseveral important grass and broadleavedweeds after they emerge inwheat, winter rye and triticale.Propoxycarbazone-sodium isabsorbed through the leaves androots and is then distributed systemicallythroughout the plant. Susceptibleplants stop growing shortlyafter treatment. The herbicidalaction normally lasts for up to fourweeks, which is long enough to killweed grasses, including those thatgerminate after application. Thespeed of action depends on environmentalconditions, and increaseswhen the temperature and soilhumidity are high.Otherwise the spectrum of actionincludes black-grass (Alopecurusmyosuroides), loose silky-bent(Apera spica-venti) and the hardto-controlbrome grasses. The substanceis also successful in controllingcouchgrass (Agropyron repens),a perennial weed grass in which itacts systemically to kill off theunderground rhizomes. Propoxycarbazone-sodiumalso controlssome broad-leaved weeds, particularlyspecies of the crucifer family(Brassicaceae).The substance can be used either onits own or in a tank mix with otherherbicides with a complementaryspectrum of action against broadleavedweeds.6Courier 1/2002

effective crop managementAttribut was developed for thecereals markets in all the majorEuropean countries and Kenya,Mexico and the United States.New acquisitions:Mikado and metosulamBayer's herbicide portfolio has beenboosted by the arrival of the newacquisitions Mikado ® and metosulam.Mikado enables Bayer to offera popular herbicide for earlypost-emergence application that cancontrol important weeds affectingEuropean maize crops.Metosulam is a versatile substance,with applications in a range of cropsincluding cereals, maize, potato,lupin, lawn grass, meadow grass,and sugar beet. Metosulam is anideal partner for many other activeingredients.A chapter to themselves:rice herbicidesPropanil had been used successfullyin rice for many years; the nextmajor step forward was taken in themid-1980s when mefenacet (tradenames Hinochloa ® , Rancho ® ) wasintroduced as a one-shot herbicideto control weeds. One-pass weedcontrol in the rice paddy becamepossible with the application ofmefenacet in combination with abroadleaf herbicide. Designedespecially for rice, this substance is,like flufenacet, a member of theoxyacetamide class discovered byBayer in 1974. In the most importantmarket, Japan, Hinochloa wasseen as the most important herbicidein that segment for many years.The active substance fentrazamideis now setting new standards in ricecultivation. It was developed atBayer's research centre in Yuki,Japan, and introduced in the majorrice-growing countries in 2000/2001,for example in Japan, under thetrade name Innova ® . As it has anoutstanding and long-lasting effecton barnyardgrass (Echinochloacrus-galli), it is the ideal choice foruse in transplanted rice. The herbicideis applied as the seedlings aretransplanted from the seed boxes toAt a glance: The Bayer herbicidestheir final growing position in thepaddy and controls weeds throughoutthe entire season. This saveswork, time and money. No otherherbicide enables farmers to combineplanting out with herbicideapplication. Synchronising thesetwo processes represents an importanttechnological innovation thatBayer has realised for rice growers.But fentrazamide can also be usedin directly sown rice. The combinationproduct Lecspro ® (6.75%fentrazamide and 37.5% propanil)is the flexible alternative, containingboth the old and the new substancefor controlling Echinochloacrus-galli, various sedges and broadleavedweeds.These examples show how muchBayer is doing to find the rightsolutions to weed problems. Ourtop priority is still the same: to helpfarmers obtain the highest possibleyields from the crops they grow.This is how Bayer's herbicides canmake a significant contribution tothe farmer’s economic success. ■Active substance Trade name CropsFlufenacet Axiom ® Soya beanTerano ® MaizeHerold ® CerealsArtist ® PotatoMetamitron Goltix ® Sugar beetMetribuzin Sencor ® Soya bean,potato, tomato,cereals, sugar beetMefenacet Hinochloa ® RiceFentrazamide Innova ® RiceLecspro ®Flucarbazone-sodium Everest ® Wheat,Durum wheatPropoxycarbazone- Attribut ® Cerealssodium Olympus ®Metosulam Eclipse ® Maize, cerealsSulcotrine Mikado ® MaizeCourier 1/20027

Achieving the 2020in the shadow of international terrorism2001 World Food Prize Laureate Address*Good primary education for children isone of the most important investmentsfor the future.The brutal terrorist attack onSeptember 11 calls for twoparallel campaigns. First isthe ongoing effort to identify anderadicate organizations that sponsorinternational terrorism. Second is acampaign to eliminate poverty,hunger, malnutrition, and mismanagementof natural resources—sourcesof extreme human misery thatfanatics use to justify their actions.IFPRI’s 2020 Vision Initiative is astep in that direction. It seeks aworld free of poverty, hunger, andmalnutrition, where naturalresources are managed sustainably.8Courier 1/2002

VisionPer Pinstrup-Andersen**Primitive water supplies: sadly still thereality in many developing countries.Can we reach this goal by 2020?Yes, we can make it happen if weset the right priorities.A few statistics. The incomes of therichest 1 percent of the world'spopulation are equivalent to theincomes of the poorest 57 percent.And the relative income distributionis getting worse. In 1960, theaverage per capita income in industrializednations was about 9 timesthat in Sub-Saharan Africa; today itis 18 times greater.Twenty percent of the world's population— about 1.2 billion people —live on less than US$1 a day. And800 million people are “food insecure”;they go to bed hungry. Everyyear 5–7 million children die fromnutrition-related illnesses. I wouldargue that no society, national orinternational, can be stable whensuch inequalities and widespreadhuman suffering exist.What about the future? FAO’s mostlikely scenario projects that we willreduce the number of food-insecurepeople from 800 to 600 million by2015. IFPRI projects that thenumber of malnourished childrenwill probably decrease from thecurrent 166 million to about 135million. Such slow progress is adisgrace.But there are viable alternatives.One scenario for bringing thesenumbers down faster finds that ifdeveloping countries increasedinvestments by 40 percent in fivesectors — agricultural research,clean drinking water, primary education,rural roads, and irrigation —the number of malnourished childrencould be reduced to about 90 million.The annual investment neededto achieve that number correspondsto less than 5 percent of the publicexpenditures in developing countriesin 1997. That does not seem to bean excessive price to pay to havewell-nourished children. That’s oneweek of global military expenditures(before Afghanistan).The actions required to attain the2020 Vision will have to be implementedin the context of emergingforces or trends. First, globalizationand trade liberalization. Globalizationis like a knife: it can be used toslice bread or to kill. Arguing aboutwhether it is good or bad is notconstructive. Instead we should askhow we can make globalizationbeneficial for poor people.Developing countries should adoptpolicies to enable agriculture andother sectors to compete in a freemarketeconomy, while we in theindustrialized countries need toopen up our markets to the productsthat developing countries canproduce competitively. I grew up ona farm, and I know it can be extremelydifficult to adjust to new pricesignals in the market. Can agriculturalsubsidies in Europe and the UnitedStates be changed so that theydo not damage developing countriesor excessively harm our own agriculture?We also must not make demands onimported food commodities thatdeveloping countries cannot meetby using food safety regulationsto keep commodities out of ourmarkets, for example. We have“escalating tariffs”: the more adeveloping country processes itsagricultural commodities, the higheris the rate of import duty. We helpdeveloping countries improve theirprocessing industries in rural areasto generate employment and addvalue to agricultural commodities.Then we turn around and say, “Butif you dare send your products toour countries, we are going to slap ahigh import tariff on them.” Wehave to be serious about levelingthe playing field.* This is a shortened version of a speech givenin Des Moines, Iowa, U.S., October 19, 2001** Director general of the International FoodPolicy Research Institute (IFPRI), 2033 KStreet, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20006-1002,U.S.A. • tel. (202) 862-5600 • fax. (202) 467-4439 • email: IFPRI@cgiar.org • web:www.ifpri.org.Courier 1/20029

Irrigation systems like this sprinklercould make a significant contributionto modernising agriculture.Another concern stemming frominternational terrorism: What ifpeople in the industrializedcountries say “it is too risky toimport food from developingcountries because it may have beentampered with,” or other countriessay “we do not want to importanything from the United States, incase terrorists have tampered withit”? If the current internationalclimate pushes people toward selfsufficiencyin food, the economicloss will be tremendous.The modern biological sciences andinformation and communicationstechnologies have much to offerpoor people in developing countries.But the benefits are notmaterializing because most of theresearch is focused on solving theproblems of industrialized countries.Very little available biotechcan be used by small farmers indeveloping countries.One reason the research is notbeing done is the strong Europeanopposition to the use of geneticengineering in food. People in theindustrialized countries can dowithout it. They eat quite well. Butdeveloping countries do need it, andwe must not tell them that becausewe do not want it or need it, theycannot have it either.It has been said that those who sufferthe consequences of a decisionshould have a voice in making it. AWest African farmer with six childrento feed often loses her corn cropto drought. She wants to plant agenetically engineered, droughttolerantcorn variety. Many wouldtell her to find another way. Whilewe figure out what that is, the childrensuffer.Another emerging force is therapidly worsening health crisis. Theinteractions between HIV/AIDSand food insecurity are important.Those of us who focus on the foodside of the equation cannot ignorethe HIV/AIDS crisis in Africa.Many other health issues such asthe increase in malaria and tuberculosislink to food security. Thelink between conflict and food securityis also close at local, national,and international levels.A few words about changing structures.On average, the South Asianfarmer has less than a football fieldof land on which to grow crops. Willsuch small farms be viable by 2020?Probably not. IFPRI is taking aclose look at what the most desirablefarming structure will be in 20years. At this point I can only saythat the definition of a small farm islikely to change dramatically.Another structural change has todo with consumption. We are in themiddle of a livestock revolution.There is going to be a sharp increasein the demand for livestock commoditiesover the next 20 years,particularly in rapidly growingAsian countries. There will also bea steady increase in the demand forprocessed and sugary foods.Regarding changing roles andresponsibilities, governments inmany countries used to have amonopoly on agricultural inputand output markets. A farmerwho wanted to buy fertilizer had togo to a parastatal. The governmentdecided how much fertilizer wouldcome in, what the price would be,and when it would be delivered.Today the parastatals have beenreplaced by the private sector. Butwe cannot expect the private sectorto produce goods and services theycannot make money on. Therefore,the government still has a role.Those who said “Less governmentis necessarily better government”turned out to be wrong. We needstrong governments to do the kindsof things only they can do, such asproviding primary education, basichealth care, agricultural research,All must have access to clean drinkingwater.10Courier 1/2002

Genetically improved crops offer anopportunity to small-scale farmers indeveloping countries too.and infrastructure. We needstandards, measurements, andenforcement of contracts.Markets may not be reformedunless the government does it.But market reforms in Africa havenot worked to the extent that wehad hoped. In some cases, privatemonopolies have replaced statemonopolies; in other cases, poorpeople in remote areas are notbeing served.A growing share of agriculturalresearch is carried out by theprivate sector and subject topatents, so it may not benefit poorpeople in developing countries.Public and nonprofit agenciesshould expand research orientedtoward poor people. Determiningwhat the private sector, the government,and the NGOs each do best isthe issue.One reason why we still have somany hungry people is the lack ofpolitical will. Governments in manydeveloping countries really do notput high priority on eradicatingpoverty, hunger, and child malnutrition.And as long as they donot, development assistance will nothave much of an impact. We needbetter governance and less corruption.My last point on changing responsibilitieshas to do with the role ofindustrialized countries. We need toseek more not less engagement inthe international community. Onepotential risk associated with theterrorists' attack is the tendency tobuild taller walls. That would be agrave mistake. The United States isalready at the bottom of the list ofindustrialized countries when itcomes to development assistance,giving less than one-tenth of 1 percentof its national income.Finally, we in the high-income partof the world have a choice. We canspend increasing amounts of moneyto protect ourselves, or we canspend the same amount of moneyon removing the root causes ofinternational terrorism and otherinstabilities. Unless we correct theinjustices that the fanatics cite as areason for attacking us, we willcontinue to live under a cloud offear. ■Intensive research by companies andpublic bodies has long formed a solidbasis for sustainable agriculture.Let it not just remain a dream: enoughgood-quality food for all the world.Courier 1/200211

Flint in pome fruit:Scab specialistspectrum ofPome-fruit growers all over theworld looking for a powerfulfungicide to combat scabdiseases (Venturia spp.) are increasinglyturning to a product in Bayer'sportfolio – the mesostemic fungicideFlint® 50 WG. Its outstanding performanceagainst fruit and leaf scabsets new standards in the control ofthese diseases, which are by far themost serious affecting pome fruit.Flint controls a large number ofpome fruit diseases when appliedpreventively. These include powderymildew (Podosphaera leucotricha)and other important diseases affectingfruitsin the summer season and duringstorage. It offers growers a safe andreliable way of maximising both yieldand fruit quality. But Flint has manyother positive qualities:• Formulated as extruded granules,the product is presented in a modern,easy-to-handle formulation.• Plant tolerance is high, allowingflexible use in spraying programmesthroughout the entire growingperiod.• Flint is highly resistant to rain andhas a long residual action.• Its favourable toxicological profileand low residue levels make it safefor users, pickers and consumers.• Flint is ideal for use in integratedproduction systems because it isunlikely to harm beneficial organisms.• Through its reasonable price, lowdosage and positive impact on yieldand quality, Flint makes a majorcontribution to boosting the netincomes of pome fruit growers.Mesostemic action – whatdoes that mean?Flint contains the active ingredienttrifloxystrobin, a second-generationstrobilurin that, like all substancesin the innovative strobilurin fungicidesgroup, is derived from theFlint – Mesostemic ActionCharacteristics of Mesostemic Systemic Loco-systemic Contactactive substance (trifloxystrobin) (triazoles) (e.g. cymoxanil) (e.g. mancozeb)Active on the ● ●plant surfaceAbsorption by thewaxy layerSuperficial vapourmovement andre-depositionPenetration into ● ●plant tissuesTranslaminar ● ●movementTransport in the●vascular system12Courier 1/2002

with a broadactionnaturally-occurring substancesstrobilurin A and oudemansin A.These two substances are extremelysensitive to light and therefore havetoo short a half-life to be used inpractice as fungicides.In the case of trifloxystrobin, theactive group in the molecule – thetriene system – has been stabilisedby changing the molecular structureto include a phenyl ring and atrifluoromethyl side chain. This sidechain also gives Flint the unique“mesostemic” properties thatdistinguish it from other fungicidalsubstances. Its strong affinity to waxmakes the substance stick to theupper surfaces of plants for a longtime, forming a rain-resistantdeport of the active ingredient. Wellprotected against the elements,trifloxystrobin can now exert itspowerful and lasting influence.Flint – Outstanding activity against apple scap due to its inhibitoryeffects at multiple stages in the life cycle of Venturia inaequalisRedistribution mechanisms alsohelp it to reach nearby areas thatwere not directly reached by thespray. For instance, the substancediffuses into the leaf tissue, fromwhere it exerts its translaminaraction. Smaller but still biologicallyeffective amounts evaporate andare transported to other parts of thetreated plant. This means that theprotective fungicidal coating thatsurrounds the plant and effectivelywards off fungal infections isreplenished from the depot.Top-level scab controlScab diseases are by far the mostserious affecting pome fruit. Scabson apples or pears decrease boththe quality and the quantity of theharvest. As scab infections affect allthe non-woody parts of the tree, therepeated leaf loss they cause canimpair the tree's ability to grow andproduce fruit, and can even, inextreme cases, eventually kill trees.Scab fungi are extremely fertile,often producing over 10 generationsReleased ascospores✗Ascospore onleaf surface✗Germination andpenetration by ascosporePseudothecium containingasci and ascosporesGermination andpenetration by conidium✗OverwinteringConidiumInfected leaveson groundConidiaConidiophoresStroma withsporulation✗Growth of subcuticularmycelium and stromaConidia onleaf surfaceGerminatingconidiumConidia onconidiophoresYoung stromaCourier 1/200213

of spores a year, and the risk ofinfection is present right from thestart of the growing period (“greentips” stage) through to the end ofthe season. It should thereforecome as no surprise to learn that inthe year 2000, around US$150 millionwas spent worldwide on fungicidesfor use in spraying programmesto control scab.Growers already have a choice ofseveral fungicides to combat scabdiseases. But Flint, Bayer's newhigh-performance fungicide, setsnew standards. Several comparativefield trials, some of which were conductedby independent researchers,found that Flint was clearly worthyof its leading position. Initial experiencein practice has emphaticallyconfirmed this. Producers of highqualityfruit, especially in areasvulnerable to scab, will therefore bedelighted to have access to this newfungicide.Flint normally inhibits the earlystages of fungal pathogen development,particularly spore germinationand germ-tube growth. For thisreason, it is best applied early as aprophylactic treatment. However,apple scab is slightly different inthat the powerful intrinsic action ofFlint enables it to control laterstages of the fungus (such as thegrowth of the subcuticular stroma)as well. This offers added flexibilityin spraying programmes designed toFlint – Spectrum of Efficacy●●●● = excellent ●●● = good ●● = moderate ● = poorcombat this disease.In view of its excellent potentialefficacy, Flint is normally includedin anti-scab spraying programmeswhen weather conditions arefavourable to fungal reproductionand the infection pressure isstrongest. This can occur during thepre-blossom stage, but in mostyears, the principal infection periodcoincides with the time when pomefruit trees are in bloom. Mistakes inscab control during this phase cannotbe subsequently corrected. Thisis why the fungicidal treatment usedin spring is so important to successfuldisease control.Flint is most effective against scabwhen used preventively. Applicationrate recommendations varyfrom country to country, dependingon the local conditions, and rangefrom 7.5–15 g product/100 l 1 . Theinterval between applicationsshould not exceed 10 days whenspraying Flint during the principalinfection period or in orchards withstrong shoot growth. Intervals maybe extended to 10–12 days when theproduct is used later, or in generalwhen the risk of infection is lower.Multi-talented and versatileOne of the greatest strengths ofFlint is that it controls or at leastsuppresses many other importantdiseases of pome fruit alongsidescab; the level of success dependson the application volume used.For example, the application ratesPathosystem / DisorderActivitypreventive curativeVenturia spp. (scap on apple and pear) ●●●● ●●●●Podosphaera leucotricha (powdery mildew) ●●● ●Schizothyrium pomi (flyspeck)●●●●Gloeodes pomigena (sooty bloth)●●●●Gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae (cedar apple rust)●●●Alternaria mali (alternaria leaf spot)●●●Stemphylium spp. (leaf spot in pear)●●●Botryosphaeria dothidea (white rot on apple)●●Glomerella cingulata (leaf spot and bitter rot)●●Gloeosporium spp. (leaf spot and bitter rot)●●●Jonathan spotno increaseLenticel red spotno increaseFruit russetingno increaseBitter pitpositive effectmentioned above for scab alsocontrol powdery mildew. The sameis true of typical summer diseases ofapples such as flyspeck (Schizothyriumpomi) and sooty blotch(Gloeodes pomigena), as well as leafspots in pears (Stemphylium spp.).Flint is also effective against storagediseases of pome fruit, a differentcategory of disease problem. It isvery difficult to choose the righttime to administer fungicides tocontrol these diseases. Finalpre-harvest applications are often asuccessful way of drastically reducingthe severity of these types ofinfection. The most common parasiticstorage diseases of apples arethe gloeosporium rots (Gloeosporiumspp.). Field trials with Flint onthese and other diseases showedthat the incidence of rot in storagecan be greatly reduced and that theresults are at least as good as thoseobtained from contact fungicides.These results have since beenconfirmed in practice.Responsible resistancemanagementThe build-up of resistance tofungicides in populations of fungalpathogens is a quite normal evolutionaryprocess. Just one change inthe genetic make-up of a pathogenpopulation, involving a spontaneously-occurringmutation, can setthis in train. The most widelyacceptedand well-founded theoryassumes that mutant genes controllinga specific resistance mechanismare already present in a naturalpopulation before a new fungicidecomes into common use. However,individual pathogens carrying thismutation do not necessarily benefitfrom it, but often lose out, in termsof growth and development in theabsence of the fungicide. That iswhy they would probably be quiterare in the population at first. Butfrequent use of the fungicide would1As Asian countries are also severely affectedby other pome fruit diseases which requirehigher application rates, anti-scab sprayingprogrammes in these countries sometimes useup to 25 g product/100 l.14Courier 1/2002

Preventive control of apple scap% efficacy10080usually lead to targeted selection ofpathogens carrying resistance to it.Resistance development is quite acommon phenomenon amongmodern fungicides. However, it hasin all cases proved possible tomaintain the efficacy of these fungicidesin many segments and uses bytaking responsible, appropriatecounter-measures at the right time.This brings us back to the beginningof the story of strobilurins and scabcontrol.The first signs of resistance tostrobilurins were noticed in somecrops after several years of widespreaduse had started. Some strainsof scab that are resistant to strobilurinshave been found. However,these strains have as yet beenobserved only in a small number ofregions with intensive pome fruitgrowing or on trial sites where theprinciples of preventive resistancemanagement have been deliberatelyviolated. In contrast to strobilurinresistance in powdery mildew inwheat (Erysiphe graminis sp. tritici),which is traceable to a pointmutation, four different resistancemechanisms have already beendescribed for apple scab. We mustbe aware of this distinction, andrealise that the situation with applescab will not necessarily become asdramatic as that with powderymildew in wheat. Nevertheless, it isimportant that the recommendationsfor strobilurin use set out below arealways considered as part of aresponsible, preventive resistancemanagement programme if thishighly effective substance class is toremain available for use in pomefruit growing in the long term:Flint or other fungicides containingstrobilurins should never be usedmore than 3 or 4 times a season tocontrol pome fruit diseases. Ofcourse, this also applies when Flintis being used to control storage diseases.In this case, it is advisable tomake the last treatment in the programmewith a contact fungicidesuch as Euparen ® M (tolylfluanid)rather than with Flint. Another6040200Foliar scapFruit scapField trials in Europe, under very heavy disease pressurePreventive control of powdery mildew on apple leaves% efficacy100806040200Infected leaves* Infected branches**Field trials in Europe, 1998* No. of infected leaves (untreated): 42%** No. of infected branches (untreated): 47%aspect of preventive resistance managementis that the recommendedintervals between applications arerespected and that ideally thetreatment programme should notcomprise more than two strobilurinapplications in succession. It hasproven beneficial to apply Flint in atank-mix, together with other specificscab fungicides or broad-actingcontact agents, particularly in casesof severe infestation. Possiblepartners in the mix are Euparen Mand Folicur ® (tebuconazole).Detailed national recommendationssuggesting tank-mixes with othercrop protection products can beobtained in Bayer recommendationbrochures or from advisors inindividual countries. If you areinterested in this topic, you can alsosee the latest recommendations onthe use of strobilurins in pome fruitcontained in the guidelines issuedby the FRAC (Fungicide ResistanceAction Committee; homepage:www.gcpf.org/frac).For pome fruit throughoutthe worldMany users who have incorporatedFlint into their spraying programmeto control scab and other pome fruitdiseases in the past growing seasonTrifloxystrobin7.5 g/100 lKresoxim-methyl10 g/100 lCaptan150 g/100 lTrifloxystrobin5 g/100 lTrifloxystrobin7.5 g/100 lKresoxim-methyl10 g/100 lPenconazole2.5 g/100 lare already convinced of the manybenefits offered by this fungicide.As it becomes registered for use infurther areas of the world, theproduct will go on sale in otherimportant pome-fruit-producingcountries in 2002: Italy, France,Chile, Japan and Korea are just afew. From 2003, Flint will be availablein all countries that producesignificant quantities of pome fruit.Two other important points:• In some Asian countries, Flint willbe sold not as an extrusion granulatebut in liquid form as a 250 SC(suspension concentrate). Othercountries have opted for the tradenames Zato ® or Aepul ® rather thanFlint.• Anyone who would like to findout more about Flint can visit thehome page of Bayer CropScience atwww.bayercropscience.com. Thiscontains a range of information,including a video with other interestingfacts that you can downloadfree of charge. ■Courier 1/200215

– a new dimension infungal disease control❶Downey mildew (Pseudoperonospora cubensis) in cucumber❷White rust (Puccinia horiana) on under leaf surface inchrysanthenum❸Brown spot (Helminthosporium oryzae) on rice panicle❹Sheath blight in rice (Rhizoctonia solani)❺Left: Anthracnose fruit-rot (Colletotrichum capsici) in chilliRight: Shoot blight (Choanephora cucurbitarum) in chilliFollowing Bayer’s acquisitionof the fungicide Flint ® (trifloxystrobin)from Syngentain December 2000, Bayer(Malaysia) Sdn Bhd immediatelytook on the exciting tasks of productdevelopment, registration andmarketing in the country. ByDecember 2001, official registrationhad been obtained for downymildew (Fig. 1) control in cucumber.Flint 50 WG has also providedexceptionally good control of whiterust in chrysanthemum (Fig. 2),Helminthosporium brown spot andsheath blight in rice (Fig. 3 & 4),and Anthracnose fruit rot and shootblight in chilli (Fig. 5) in our recenttrials. Registration will also beapplied for in these crops.Flint 50 WG belongs to the newgeneration of strobilurin fungicides.It is a mesostemic compound, with anew and unique mode of action,characterized by the high affinity ofthe fungicide to the waxy layers ofthe plant surface, and by its novelredistribution properties (see FigureA).Mesostemic actionThe mesostemic action gives theproduct a unique combination ofproperties for outstanding diseasecontrol. Protection starts at the leafsurface, to which the product isstrongly attracted. It is absorbed bythe waxy layers of the plant, whereit forms a powerful barrier againstinfection even if it rains directlyafter application. Rainfastness isvery important in high-rainfallcountries like Malaysia. Moreover,farmers often use sprinklers forwatering, a process that wouldadversely affect the performance offungicides that remain on the leafsurface. Superficial chemical vapourmovement and re-deposition onplant surfaces helps to protect newgrowth and untreated plant tissuesand contributes to overall disease16Courier 1/2002

Figure A: How a mesostemic fungicide worksFungicide depositsStrong activity on theplant surfaceAbsorption by the waxy layerof the cuticle (rainfastness,fungicide barrier againstfungal attacks, reservoir forcontinuous uptake andredistribution)Penetration into planttissue (continuouspenetration of a.s. forlong-lasting control)Cuticle (upper surface)EpidemisMesophyllVascular bundleCross section of a leafCuticle (lower surface)Redistribution & redepositionacross the surface of morecomplete protection (vapourmovement & surface moisture)Translaminar movement andactivity (protection on bothsides of the leaf)control within the crop canopy.Re-distribution and re-depositionof the chemical also take place insurface moisture.The active substance also penetratesinto plant tissues and showstranslaminar activity, ensuring thatboth leaf surfaces are protectedfrom disease infection. However,there is little or no transport withinthe vascular system of the plant.Significant amounts of chemicalcontinue to penetrate the planttissue from the surface deposit, withno dilution because of the lack ofsystemic transport of the fungicide.The result is sustainable, high-leveldisease control.The mesostemic power, therefore,confers the qualities Prevention,Persistence and Protection indisease control, as illustrated below.Together, these comprise the three“P”s concept. Flint truly representsa major advance in chemical diseasecontrol.Three “P”s of mesostemic power of Flint123Attracts to and actson plant surfaceHigh affinity withwaxy layerTranslaminar activity,redistribution by superficialvapour movement,then re-depositionTotal disease managementprogramme...Flint 50 WG should be used withinan integral disease managementprogramme which includes otherfungicides possessing a differentmode of action. This will ensurehighly-effective disease control andprovide a sustainable strategy forthe management of fungicideresistance.Due to its outstanding activity andplant compatibility, there is greatflexibility in the timing of applicationof Flint 50 WG within diseasemanagement programmes such asthose we have developed forcucumber, chilli, rice, and chrysanthemum.Guidelines on the use ofFlint 50 WG in these crops areoutlined below....in cucumberCucumber, a popular vegetablegrown in the lowlands, is seededdirectly on raised beds. The cropgrows for about three months.A well-developed leaf canopy isformed within a month of seedingand flowering begins. Nutrientdemand becomes critical at thisstage. The most important disease isdowny mildew (PseudoperonosporaPrevention(prevents disease establishment)Persistence(long-lasting control,rainfastness)Protection(total protection)cubensis), and, to a lesser extent,powdery mildew (Sphaerothecafuliginea). Both diseases affect theleaves. A normal fungicide sprayprogramme consists of 12 sprays atseven day intervals, beginning atabout seven to ten days aftergermination.Flint 50 WG provides good controlof downy mildew, especially when itis tank-mixed with a contactfungicide such as Antracol ® 70 WP(propineb).Flint 50 WG mixed with Antracol70 WP at 250 g + 1500 g/ha shouldbe applied in alternation with otherfungicides possessing a differentmode of action, but with specificactivity against the same diseases,especially downy mildew. Sprayingshould begin during the floweringand early harvesting periods. Notmore than three sprays of the Flint50 WG + Antracol tank-mixcombination should be applied percrop season....in chilliTraditionally, chilli has been grownas a smallholder’s crop, but it is nowalso widely planted on a commercialscale in the lowlands. Amongthe serious fungal disease problemsare anthracnose fruit rot (Colletotrichumcapsici) and Choanephorashoot blight (Choanephoracucurbitarum). These two diseasesdevelop and spread rapidly duringthe wetter periods of the year,attacking the plants particularly inthe fruit-bearing stages.Mature, ripe fruits are susceptibleto fruit rot. Sunken lesions firstappear on the fruit surface, followedby the development of blackacervuli arranged in concentricrings.Shoot blight includes wet rot on thegrowing shoots, stems, fruit stalksand fruits of the plant. Duringextended warm, wet weather,Courier 1/200217

disease development and spread arerapid, resulting in severe necrosisand die-back of plant foliage.With a fungicide spray programmeof more than 24 applications atseven day intervals per crop season,it is essential to target Flint 50 WGapplication at the most criticalstages of disease developmentduring fruiting and harvesting. Thetotal number of applications of Flint(or other strobilurins) should notexceed 50% of the total number ofapplications....in chrysanthemumChrysanthemum is grown in thehighlands at 1000-1600 metresabove sea-level to capitalize on coolclimate, which is ideal for flowerproduction. The farms are intensivelycultivated, and three to fourcrops may be planted per year.The most serious fungal disease iswhite rust, caused by Pucciniahoriana. Initial symptoms are whitepustules on the leaves. These firstappear as blister-like swellings,which eventually break open todischarge brown, powdery spores.Severely infected plants are stuntedand fail to bloom properly. Thedisease occurs throughout the yearbut is most serious during the wet,cool months between Septemberand December. The very highrelative humidity (more than 98%)under plastic shelters and thetemperatures of 17–23 °C, prevalentin the highlands at this time of theyear, are ideal conditions for thespread of white rust.Additionally, four weeks aftertrans-planting, a vigorously growingcanopy and flowering createconditions very favourable forinfection. Overhead irrigation alsocontributes to the problem.A fungicide spray programme of12-16 applications per season atseven day intervals is normal.Taking all these factors into consideration,a guideline on the use ofFlint 50 WG is proposed in whichnot more than four sprays areapplied between the flower-budformation stage and harvest. It isrecommended that Flint 50 WG hasto be alternated with fungicidespossessing different modes ofaction....in riceChanges in plant type and inproduction systems (such as directseeding)have resulted in anincrease in sheath blight (Rhizoctoniasolani) in rice in Malaysia. Thisis the major rice disease in manyregions/countries, causing morelosses than any other fungal disease,18Courier 1/2002

especially in the lowland tropics.The soil-borne fungal pathogenspreads via its sclerotia andmycelium and, if conditions arefavourable, can infect the entireplant – from the base of the stem tothe panicle. If infection is severeand occurs at an early stage of cropgrowth, the pathogen penetrates thestem, turning its tissues into a mushand preventing the transport ofwater and nutrients within theplant. This results in severe impairmentof yield and quality (stuntedgrains and a low proportion ofmilled rice).High temperature and humidityencourage the development of thedisease, especially during the earlyheading stages. Higher crop densitiesresult in a more humid microclimate,promoting infection. Closercontact between the plants alsopromotes the spread of infection inthe dense canopy.Helminthosporium brown spot(H. oryzae) is a common disease ofrice in almost all countries wherethe crop is grown. The pathogen’sairborne conidia are an importantsource of inoculum. The disease canoccasionally become a seriousproblem, especially when it occurstogether with sheath blight at theheading stage of the crop.The application of Monceren ®(pencycuron) 25 WP or 250 SC forinitial sheath blight control, followedby a Flint 50 WG applicationat 100 g/ha to control both sheathblight and Helminthosporium leafspot, is a favourable spray programme.In direct-seeded rice fields, fishfarming is rendered impractical dueto the high density of plants. Moreover,application of Flint 50 WG istimed at about 65-70 days aftersowing, when the field is practicallywithout water so aquatic organismsare unlikely to be affected.Further trials with Flint 50 WGagainst major diseases in fruit andother vegetable crops towardsappropriate disease managementFig. 1 – Efficacy of Flint 50 WG against downy mildew in cucumber% efficacy100100806040205130Flint 50 WG Flint 50 WG + Antracol 70 WP Untreated(500 g/ha) (250 g/ha + 1500 g/ha)30 DA1A* 44 DA1A 57 DA1A *Assessment at days after 1 st application8 applications, 7-day intervals, 1000 l/haFig. 2 – Efficacy of Flint 50 WG against white rust in chrysanthemummean rust spots/10 plants200180 194160140165145120100806080404720 364701505 th Assessment 7 th AssessmentUntreatedBayfidan 250 EC (500 ml/ha)Folicur 250 EC (500 ml/ha) Saprol 190 EC (1500 ml/ha)Flint 50 WG (200 g/ha)8 applications, 7-day intervals, 1000 l/haFig. 3 – Efficacy of Flint 50 WG against brown spot in rice% efficacy % infection in untreated10080858781 8160 71 71 71756240422007 DAT* 21 DAT 7 DAT 21 DAT*days after treatmentUntreatedFarmers’ practice (300 ml/ha) Folicur 250 EC (400 ml/ha)Turfsiba 250 SC (1000 ml/ha) Flint 50 WG (200 g/ha)Monceren 250 SC (600 ml/ha)1 spray at 70 days after sowing, 400 l/haFig. 5 – Efficacy of various fungicides against fruit rotand shoot blight in chilli% efficacy Untreated: 215 fruits infected/plot; 101 shoots infected/plot10080 90 95 9760757540502009587 92 94Fig. 4 – Efficacy of various fungicides against brown spotand sheath blight in riceFruit rotShoot blightFarmers’ practice + Mancozeb 80 WP (500 ml + 1000 g/ha)Antracol 70 WG (2000 g/ha)Flint 50 WG (250 g/ha)9 applications, 7-day intervals, 1000 l/ha;disease incidence assessed after last application85% leaf surface infected inuntreated% efficacy Untreated: 30% brown spot infection; 20% sheath blight infection100100809090 908060758080657040200Brown spotSheath blightFarmers’ practice (300 ml/ha) Monceren 250 EC (400 ml/ha)Folicur 250 EC (400 ml/ha) Turfsiba 250 SC (1000 ml/ha)Flint 50 WG (100 g/ha)1 spray at 70 days after sowing, 400 l/ha;disease incidence assessed at 21 days after treatment610Courier 1/200219

Conservingbiodiversityand increasingagriculturalproductivityare mutuallycompatibleaimsAn example of apublic-privatepartnership betweenGTZ 1 and Bayerin GuatemalaLa Vera PazGuatemala’s original namein the ancient Nahualanguage, “Coacthemallan”,means “land of the big green trees”.Its Las Verapaces region islocated in the “green heart” of thiscentral American country. Originallyalso called “Tezulutlan” or “land ofwar”, due to the continuous conflictbetween its indigenous people andinvaders, the Las Verapaces regionwas actually never conquered byforce of Spanish weapons and wartactics, as was the rest of the country.It was the Gospel, preached bycatholic priests, that was the key toopening up this region to the1“Deutsche Gesellschaft für TechnischeZusammenarbeit (GTZ) GmbH”, which is aGerman government owned corporation forinternational cooperation

A rainbow in feathers: the quetzal,Guatemala's national birdmodern way of life. “La Vera Paz”,meaning “truly peaceful”, wastherefore a suitable new name forthis exotic region. Mainly coveredby tropical rainforest, the area isalso the natural habitat of the threenational emblems: the national tree,Ceiba pentandra; the nationalflower, the white nun orchid(Lycaste skinneri alba); and thenational bird, Quetzal (Trogonresplendens), a rare and preciouslong-tailed, iridescent-featheredbird that lives in the majesticmountains among thousands ofother wild native plant and animalspecies within an enriched andbiologically diverse natural mosaic.The region’s indigenous people aredescendants of the Mayans andbelong to the A´chís, the K´ekchíesor the Pokomchíes. Like almostevery forest community in theworld, they have traditionally usedthe forest’s resources for a living.However, the natural resource baseis endangered through a number offactors: a high population growthrate (among the highest in theworld); the region’s poverty (unemploymentrates are very high, duemainly to depressed world coffeeprices); and low and declining agriculturalproductivity. The demandfor new land is putting the region’sunique biodiversity heritage at risk.In recent years, the problem hasbecome worse. The spread of agriculturalland through the traditionalslash & burn technique now affectseven steep mountainsides. Afteronly a few years of agriculturalactivity on these newly-gainedfields, the soil erosion and depletionis obvious. The agricultural frontiersare therefore extending moreand more into the more northernparts of the thus far almostuntouched forest reserves of the ElPetén area.All of these problems are of greatconcern, and ideas are needed tohelp farmers to find solutions toimprove their ability to earn theirlivelihoods. There are not manyalternatives to agriculture, becauseit is the key economic sector in thearea. The solution is to increaseproductivity through improvedproduction technologies and todiversify the crops grown on theland already cultivated. Thereforethe region was chosen in 2001 for apublic-private partnership projectjointly carried out by GTZ andBayer S.A. The project’s aim is topromote improved agriculturaltechniques and to spread knowledgeof Integrated Crop Management(ICM), which is the bestmodel for sustainable agriculturein practice. ICM contributes toincreasing productivity on landalready under production whilepreventing fragile ecosystems andtheir biodiversity heritage frombeing sacrificed to unsustainableland-gain activities.To improve the impact and outreachof the project’s goals, effortsare made to involve as many stakeholdersas possible. Educationalassociations, environmental movements,agricultural workers’ unions,teachers at various levels, wildlifepreservation activists, municipalities,university extension groups,water managers, health and radiobroadcasting organisations and a2ILO International Labor OrganizationSadly, still a widely-used method of “land reclamation”: the traditional peasant practice of slash and burn even on steep slopes thatare useless for cultivation.Courier 1/200221

A typical peasant farm in the region.Progress: now farmers' wives attend class too.This class on integrated pest management isteaching farmers the use and benefits of theyellow plastic traps for harmful insects.Education in the farming community isgradually introducing the AgroVida conceptinto secondary schools as well.locally-based ILO 2 group workingfor the abolishment of child labourhave all indicated their interest inparticipating. To date, 15 differentorganisations and entities havejoined the project on an “in kind”contribution basis, mainly throughtraining, and all share their expertiseand experience to realise benefitsfor the rural community.Some 30,000 smallholders and theirfamilies work about 30,000 ha ofagricultural land. Almost 60% ofthem are involved in subsistencefarming. Their yields are very lowdue to the unsustainable use of thenatural resources and the lack ofadequate agricultural tools andtechniques. Their earnings areamong the lowest in the country,and need to come both from theirown crops and from labour on otherfarms. The main crops grown arecorn and beans and vegetables. 20%of the farmers grow tomato, pepper,cucumber, onion, peanut, potato,broccoli and cauliflower. However,tomato, once the driving crop interms of earnings, has now lost itsstatus due to pest infestations andlack of knowledge of how to dealwith the problem. The 20% betterofffarmers are those growingexport crops such as cardamom,orchids, leather leaf and other ornamentalplants, and coffee (althoughthe latter is now also suffering fromthe low commodity prices).Tomato production has thereforebeen a first major target for theproject. Due to the presence ofwhitefly, a virus vector, the tomatoproduction area has declined in thelast few years. Newly-developedconcepts in Integrated PestManagement (IPM) for whiteflycontrol are re-opening productionareas that had been abandoned formany years because of the spread ofvirus disease. Mechanical pestcontrol measures such as the use ofyellow plastic traps, and trap-crops(beans) to control early whiteflyinfestations favour this pest’snatural enemies and predators.Crop protection products are usedin a very targeted and efficientmanner: “as much as needed but aslittle as possible”. Targeted usereduces spending on crop protectionproducts and contributes tosavings for the farmers, so economyand ecology go together.Because appropriate humannutrition is also a concern, theproject focuses on the high-proteinpeanut crop, in order to improvethe population’s diet. Impressiveresults have already been obtained.Using traditional methods of peanutproduction (degenerated local varieties,no supplementary plant nutrition,no pest and disease control,etc.) farmers were obtaining nomore than 975 kg/ha. New cultivationtechniques (improved varieties,healthy seeds, integrated plantnutrition including both organicmatter usage and mineral fertilisers,appropriate pest and diseasecontrol, etc.) improved yields tomore than 3,500 kg/ha. Net earningsincreased from US$ 730/ha to US$2,200/ha. This is a very importantstep towards increasing farmers’income and improving their dailydiet in terms of both quantity andquality.The programme employs fourpromoters, who are assignedspecific tasks in chosen communitiesand villages, one supervisor, twoassociated counselling directors,one accountant, and 50 trainers. All22Courier 1/2002

of the trainers speak the main localnative language k´ekchíe, and havehad from 8 to 15 years experience inother agricultural developmentprojects. Prior to the launch of thecurrent project, they receivedproper training in a seminar(“sustainability related to agriculture”)divided into various teachingmodules relating to ICM: croprotation, natural resources (e.g. soiland water) management, conservationtillage, integrated plant nutrition,crop timing and IPM. The lastof these integrates all of the availablepest, disease and weed controlmeasures (mechanical, biologicaland chemical) into an optimisedpackage. To keep all of the trainersupdated, the training activities aremaintained during the project.The plan is to reach 3,000 “modelfarmers” and their families, including6,000 children, through the 50trainers. The programme intends toreach and actively include all familymembers according to their personalinterests and activities. Traditionally,women’s participation intraining and working activities hasbeen very small in this region,because they have usually beenrelegated to housekeeping, care ofsmall children, fetching the dailywater supply for the household, etc.The project is deliberately trying tobreak those social barriers and toempower women by encouragingtheir participation in the trainingsessions. Children and youth participationis also very important,because their level of education isoften higher than those of otherfamily members. They are usuallyable to read and write and are goodconveyors of knowledge to theirparents. Young children are alsomore likely to accept – and adoptfor the long-term – behaviouralchanges.Educational material has beenadapted to the communitiesinvolved (the level of literacy isonly about 42% among the ruralpopulation). It includes: flip charts(with posters), films, slide shows,computer presentations, workbooks,educational comic-strips, historytales and teaching modules.Audio-visual tools are the mosteffective materials used and all ofthe training is made very dynamicand participatory, especiallythrough the use of demonstrationplots in the “model” farmers’ fields,where the training often takesplace.The project capitalises on experiencesgained in similar projects –generically known as “Agrovida”.The original pilot project was initiatedin Brazil in 1995 and similarprojects have since spread withinthe country and beyond, to otherLatin American countries such asColumbia and Chile (see CourierAgrochem 2/98). In Guatemala, theproject includes a broader focus(it is planned to place strongeremphasis on improving soil andwater management techniques, cropdiversification, market developmentfor agricultural produce etc.), whichcan only be obtained through “burdensharing” via the public-privateapproach taken. ■COURIERThe Bayer CropScience Magazine for Modern AgricultureBayer Agrochemicalsand information thereon may be obtained fromArab Republic of Egypt: Bayer Middle East Ltd.,P.O.B. 2062, CairoAustralia: Bayer Australia Ltd., Agri. Div.,P.O.B. 903, Pymble N.S.W. 2073Barbados: Bayer Caribbean Ltd.,P.O.B. 6790, BridgetownCyprus: Costas Christodoulou & Co.,P.O.B. 21032, NicosiaEthiopia: BYSWM Ethiopia Private Ltd.,Ras Abebe Aregay Avenue,P.O.Box 2578, Addis Abeba/EthiopiaGhana: Abuakwa Formulation Plant Ltd.,Kumasi GhanaHong Kong: Bayer China Co. Ltd.,G.P.O. Box 911, Hong KongIndia: Bayer (India) Ltd., P.O.B. 8420, Bombay 400 076Indonesia: P.T. Bayer Indonesia, P.O.B. 2507,Jakarta 10001, IndonesiaIran: Bayer-Iranchemie AG, P.O.B. 11365-716,Teheran 14186, IranJapan: Nihon Bayer Agrochem K.K.,Takanawa 4-10-8, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 108-8572Jordan: The Arab Co. for Medical + AgriculturalProducts, P.O.B. 926774, Amman 11110, JordanKenya: Bayer East Africa Ltd., P.O.B. 30321, NairobiKorea: Misung Ltd., Business Group Crop Protection,Misung Center, 532-6, Dongcheonni, ChinwimyunPyongteak-si, Kyunggi-do 451-860Kuwait: Yusuf Ibrahim Alghanim + Co. W.L.L.,Shuweikh Industrial Area, Street No. 8, Area No. 99,13005 Safat, KuwaitLebanon: Agripest S.A.L.,Pasteur Road, St. Antoine-Building, BeirutMalaysia: Bayer (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., P.O.B. 7252,40708 Shah AlamMauritius: Roger Fayd’ Herbe & Co. Ltd.,P.O.B. 166, Port LouisNew Zealand: Bayer New Zealand Ltd., CPO Box 2825,Glenfield, Auckland 1310Nigeria: Unichem Nigeria Ltd., P.O.B. 303 Apapa,Ojota-Oregun Road, Lagos, NigeriaOman: International Insecticides Co.,Opposite Al Falaj Hotels, Al Mujamma Street,P.O.Box 2157, Postal Code 112,Ruwi/Sultanate of OmanPakistan: Bayer Pakistan (Private) Ltd.,Bahria Complex II, 4th floor M.T. Khan Road,Karachi-74900/PakistanPhilippines: Bayer Philippines Inc., P.O.B. 7737,Airmail Distribution Center, Manila Intern. AirportQatar: Arab Trading Co., P.O.B. 100, DohaSaudi Arabia: Al Emar Group Est., P.O.B. 22181,Riyadh 11495Singapore: Bayer (South East Asia) Pte. Ltd.,P.O.B. 71, Jurang Point, Singapore 916403South Africa: Bayer South Africa (Pty.) Ltd.Agro. Chem. Division, P.O.B. 143, Isando 1600Sri Lanka: Haychem Ltd, P.O.B. 70, Colombo 10Sudan: Sudachem, P.O.B. 3507, KhartoumSyria: Attanmiah Agricultural Co., Khoury & Co.,P.O.B. 11647, 6901 Damascus S.A.R.Taiwan: Bayer Taiwan Co., Ltd., P.O.B. 55-35,Taipei 104, Taiwan R.O.C.Tanzania: Bytrade Tanzania Limited,P.O.B. 3491, Dar es SalaamThailand: Bayer Thai Co., Ltd., Crop Protection BG,“Bayer Center” 130/1 North Sathorn Road,P.O.B. 1718, Bangkok 10500Turkey: Bayer Türk, P.O.B. 688, 80225 Sisli/IstanbulUnited Arab Emirates: Middle East Agripest L.L.C.,P.O.B. 55023, Dubai, U.A.E.United States: Bayer Corp., Agricultre Division,6700 Corporate, Drive Suite 200, P.O.B. 4913,Kansas City, Missouri 64120Yemen Arab. Republic: Yemen AgriculturalEvolution Office Ltd., P.O.B. 5315, Taiz 2Zimbabwe: Bayer Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd.,P.O.B. AY 78, Amby, Harare1st Issue 2002

Nature and technologyIn functional terms, the light emitted byglow-worms and by lighthouses servesthe same purpose: orientation. Male andfemale glow-worms find each other bymeans of particular patterns of flashing.The light from lighthouses is used toprotect ships from rocky coasts andguide them safely to port.Though both forms of light serve asimilar purpose, they are produced invery different ways. Glow-wormsproduce cold light as a result of achemical reaction between twocompounds: luciferin and luciferase.Hardly any heat is produced during thisprocess. If you have ever touched a hotlight-bulb you will realise how far man isfrom achieving this highly effectivemethod of light production. In light-bulbs,a tungsten wire is heated and made toglow by an electric current. ■