Use of biological control agents in greenhouse horticulture

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Biological, control Crops Biological control Area size with deployment of macrobials Area size with deployment of macrobials (ha) Biological control Area size with deployment of macrobials Area size with deployment of macrobials (%)
Total biological, control agents Total crops/cultivation sectors 6,356 94.4
Strawberries, under glass 493 97.8
Foliage plants under glass 372 80.8
Chrysantinum under glass 415 93.2
Gerberas under glass 160 97.5
Cucumbers 594 100.0
Peppers (total) 1,532 100.0
Pot plants for flowering 714 74.5
Roses under glass 204 100.0
Tomatoes (total) 1,872 100.0
A Predatory mite and trips total Total crops/cultivation sectors 4,668 69.3
Strawberries, under glass 493 97.7
Foliage plants under glass 309 67.2
Chrysantinum under glass 415 93.2
Gerberas under glass 160 97.5
Cucumbers 592 99.5
Peppers (total) 1,525 99.5
Pot plants for flowering 641 66.9
Roses under glass 204 100.0
Tomatoes (total) 329 17.6
A01 Amblydromalus limonicus Total crops/cultivation sectors 470 7.0
Strawberries, under glass 269 53.4
Foliage plants under glass 4 0.8
Chrysantinum under glass 0 0.0
Gerberas under glass 13 7.8
Cucumbers 28 4.7
Peppers (total) 43 2.8
Pot plants for flowering 15 1.6
Roses under glass 98 48.2
Tomatoes (total) 0 0.0
A02 Amblyseius degenerans Total crops/cultivation sectors 205 3.0
Strawberries, under glass 6 1.2
Foliage plants under glass 2 0.5
Chrysantinum under glass . .
Gerberas under glass . .
Cucumbers . .
Peppers (total) 186 12.2
Pot plants for flowering 10 1.1
Roses under glass . .
Tomatoes (total) 0 0.0
A03 Amblyseius swirskii Total crops/cultivation sectors 1,484 22.0
Strawberries, under glass 57 11.2
Foliage plants under glass 140 30.4
Chrysantinum under glass 4 0.9
Gerberas under glass 110 66.9
Cucumbers 517 86.9
Peppers (total) 365 23.8
Pot plants for flowering 233 24.4
Roses under glass 59 28.7
Tomatoes (total) . .
A04 Macrocheles robustulus Total crops/cultivation sectors 267 4.0
Strawberries, under glass 28 5.5
Foliage plants under glass 70 15.3
Chrysantinum under glass 5 1.1
Gerberas under glass 3 1.6
Cucumbers 5 0.8
Peppers (total) . .
Pot plants for flowering 135 14.1
Roses under glass 1 0.4
Tomatoes (total) 20 1.1
A05 Neioseiulus californicus Total crops/cultivation sectors 1,288 19.1
Strawberries, under glass 372 73.8
Foliage plants under glass 84 18.2
Chrysantinum under glass 0 0.1
Gerberas under glass . .
Cucumbers 389 65.4
Peppers (total) 294 19.2
Pot plants for flowering 95 9.9
Roses under glass 53 25.8
Tomatoes (total) 0 0.0
A06 Neioseiulus cucumeris Total crops/cultivation sectors 1,674 24.9
Strawberries, under glass 452 89.6
Foliage plants under glass 77 16.7
Chrysantinum under glass 71 15.9
Gerberas under glass 143 86.8
Cucumbers 158 26.6
Peppers (total) 535 34.9
Pot plants for flowering 77 8.1
Roses under glass 161 79.0
Tomatoes (total) . .
A07 Phytoseiulus persimilis Total crops/cultivation sectors 3,495 51.9
Strawberries, under glass 243 48.1
Foliage plants under glass 173 37.7
Chrysantinum under glass 403 90.5
Gerberas under glass 63 38.3
Cucumbers 508 85.4
Peppers (total) 1,423 92.9
Pot plants for flowering 185 19.3
Roses under glass 168 82.3
Tomatoes (total) 329 17.6
A08 Stratiolaelaps scimitus Total crops/cultivation sectors 629 9.3
Strawberries, under glass 3 0.6
Foliage plants under glass 145 31.6
Chrysantinum under glass . .
Gerberas under glass 33 20.1
Cucumbers 4 0.7
Peppers (total) 49 3.2
Pot plants for flowering 349 36.4
Roses under glass 45 22.1
Tomatoes (total) 0 0.0
Source: CBS.
Explanation of symbols

Table explanation


This table contains data on the use of biological control agents in horticultural crops under cover. Except about the number of companies which apply biological control agents and the corresponding area, the table gives information about the number of macrobial organisms, as a total and per group of organisms and per ha. A selection can be made by crop.
Microbial pesticides (like bacteria, fungi) are not is this table because they are plant protection products.

Data available from: 2012

Status of the figures:
The figures of 2012, 2016 en 2020 are definitive.

Changes as of 10 January 2023:
For the subject use of biological control agents the datatype is adapted, because this gave undesirable round numbers. The structure of the table is not changed.

Changes as of 28 December 2022:
Provisional figures 2020 are replaced by definitive figures.

Changes as of 19 July 2022:
None, this is a new table. This table is the processor of the table Biological control in horticulture under cover 2012-2016, see paragraph 3.

When will new figures be published?
New figures over 2024 will become available in December 2025.

Description topics

Biological control
Biological control implies the deployment of purchased biological control agents for prevention and control of plagues. A biological control agent is a natural enemy of a plague. The agent is an invertebrate macrobial
Area size with deployment of macrobials
Size of area with deployment of macrobiological control agents.
Area size with deployment of macrobials
Size of area with deployment of macrobiological control agents.
Area size with deployment of macrobials
Size of area with deployment of macrobiological control agents, as percentage of the size area of the crop. In case of 100% each hectare of the crop is treated with at least one macrobial.