Alternative to neonicotinoids in sugar beet: Summary of four years of experimentation

The National Research and Innovation Programme (PNRI) aims to identify practical solutions for managing yellowing disease impacts in sugar beets production. Since 2021, several trials have been conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of different control strategies, mainly including companion plants, chemical mediators, and the release of beneficial insects. A statistical model was used to estimate the effectiveness of these strategies on aphid populations, whether applied alone or in combination with aphicide treatments. Companion plants help reduce aphid populations and yellowing symptoms in sugar beets but yield losses due to competition must be controlled to limit them as much as possible. The effectiveness of chemical mediators and beneficial insect releases on aphids is still under evaluation.