Fumigant Use for Strawberry Production in Europe: The Current Landscape and Solutions

ABSTRACTThe impact of methyl bromide (MB) phase-out on important fruit and nursery industries in the EU (2005/2008) has been significant. Under EU Regulation 1107/2009, MB fumigant alternatives 1,3-dichloropropene and chloropicrin were also phased out (in 2010 and 2013, respectively) while dazomet, metam sodium, and potassium were re-approved with crucial restrictions of rates and years of application. However, currently an EU Member State may authorize use of these phased-out fumigants for 120 days/year. This exemption has been used for strawberry (fruit and nursery production) and other crops in Spain, Italy, Belgium, France, UK, Cyprus, Malta, and Greece in recent years. To provide an update of the current situation, a comprehensive survey of 41 European and other industries has been completed. Most of them use crop rotation as the main pest management solution. Non-chemical solutions, in particular soilless cultivation, are important in the UK, Ireland, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Chemical f...