Use of biological control agents in greenhouse horticulture

Use of biological control agents in greenhouse horticulture

Biological, control Crops Periods 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 (%) Deployed macrobiological control agents (1000 pieces) Deployed biological control agents per Crop area (1000 pieces/ha) Deployed biological control agents per Area with biological control agents (1000 pieces/ha)
A Predatory mite and trips total Total crops/cultivation sectors 2020 4,668 69.3 52,344,193 7,772 11,213
A Predatory mite and trips total Strawberries, under glass 2020 493 97.7 3,614,875 7,169 7,335
A Predatory mite and trips total Foliage plants under glass 2020 309 67.2 4,558,508 9,914 14,762
A Predatory mite and trips total Chrysantinum under glass 2020 415 93.2 22,365,278 50,241 53,932
A Predatory mite and trips total Gerberas under glass 2020 160 97.5 1,958,927 11,920 12,221
A Predatory mite and trips total Cucumbers 2020 592 99.5 4,230,455 7,113 7,151
A Predatory mite and trips total Peppers (total) 2020 1,525 99.5 2,381,047 1,554 1,561
A Predatory mite and trips total Pot plants for flowering 2020 641 66.9 8,489,278 8,859 13,236
A Predatory mite and trips total Roses under glass 2020 204 100.0 4,711,647 23,066 23,066
A Predatory mite and trips total Tomatoes (total) 2020 329 17.6 34,178 18 104
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Total crops/cultivation sectors 2020 246 3.7 402,455 60 1,637
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Strawberries, under glass 2020 43 8.5 79,502 158 1,854
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Foliage plants under glass 2020 38 8.3 61,050 133 1,591
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Chrysantinum under glass 2020 0 0.1 141 0 400
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Gerberas under glass 2020 16 9.6 10,302 63 654
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Cucumbers 2020 57 9.7 18,227 31 317
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Peppers (total) 2020 8 0.5 674 0 85
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Pot plants for flowering 2020 53 5.5 190,881 199 3,617
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Roses under glass 2020 30 14.9 41,677 204 1,373
A99 Predatory mite and trips, others Tomatoes (total) 2020 . . . . .
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Total crops/cultivation sectors 2020 4,998 74.2 2,440,622 362 488
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Strawberries, under glass 2020 247 49.0 14,610 29 59
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Foliage plants under glass 2020 175 38.1 74,584 162 426
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Chrysantinum under glass 2020 303 68.0 8,933 20 29
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Gerberas under glass 2020 154 93.8 229,966 1,399 1,492
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Cucumbers 2020 411 69.0 102,716 173 250
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Peppers (total) 2020 1,496 97.6 357,809 234 239
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Pot plants for flowering 2020 276 28.8 43,403 45 157
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Roses under glass 2020 167 81.9 16,898 83 101
B Parasitoid wasp and gall midge total Tomatoes (total) 2020 1,769 94.5 1,591,705 850 900
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.
Deployed macrobiological control agents
The number of deployed macrobiological control agents against plagues. Numbers of macrobials from bankerplants are not included. Numbers of macrobials from sachets with guaranteed outflow are included. Nutrition for predators is not included. Notice that the number of nematodes is very large and therefore a total is only provided for the level of biological groups or macrobial organism.
Deployed biological control agents per
Numbers of deployed, purchased, macrobial control agents against plagues. Per hectare. Growth of the population during crop growth is neglected.
Crop area
Numbers of deployed, purchased, macrobial control agents against plagues. Per hectare of a crop. This number depends also on the number of cultivations of the crop.
Area with biological control agents
Numbers of deployed, purchased, macrobial control agents against plagues. Per hectare of a crop with deployment of at least one macrobial. This number depends also on the number of cultivations of the crop.