Do Supermarkets in Ireland make IPM impossible? John Hogan

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1 Do Supermarkets in Ireland make IPM impossible? John Hogan 1

2 Horticulture Overview Retail Market Fresh Produce Market 2013 ~ 1.2bn Vegetables - 525m Fruit - 527m Potatoes - 165m Food Service Market ~ 100m (wholesale) Combined Fruit and Vegetables account for 14% of total grocery spend in Ireland 2

3 Horticulture Industry - Field Vegetables 4,590 hectares in ,240 hectares in hectares lost in production Why and where is it gone????? 212 commercial growers in 2009? commercial growers in m output at farm gate Crops leafy brassicas, roots, salads, alliums, etc. 3

4 Vegetables 4

5 IPM IPM is a sustainable approach to managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical and chemical tools in a way that minimises economic, health and environmental risks (North Dakota State University) Needs long term investment 5

6 Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Stakeholders Consumers Safe food Sustainable food Retailers Safe and sustainable food Need to understand IPM May need to look at their specifications and share in the burden of any extra cost involved in production Growers In most cases already comply with many of the IPM regulations Will have to plan more long term New approach 6

7 Land Rent Vegetable production per year uses 4,200 hectares Rented land accounts for 3,100 hectares (approx) Mostly on conacre or 11 month system Need to lease land on a longer term Main benefits of longer term land lease are:- Better long term planning in relation to Soil fertility building Crop rotation Phosphorus and Potash investment Farmyard manure application Other composts Green manure in rotation to increase soil fertility Growers are travelling longer distances to secure suitable land Very costly 7

8 The Field 8

9 Nutrition Investment in yield and quality Early decision making necessary Accurate soil testing ~ GPS mapping and gridding Proper interpretation of soil analysis results Recommendations specific to crop GPS Precision Farming 80 day versus 220 day cauliflower Precise application of fertilisers, farm yard manure, minor and foliar nutrients and biostimulants Science continues to evolve and further improvement on nutrition will continue and costs will also rise 9

10 Nutrition Timing important: ph/lime Phosphorus Potassium Farmyard manure Green manures: Assist with reducing soil erosion Supply organic matter to the soil Supply nutrients to the soil 10

11 Seeds, Plants, Tubers, Sets etc IPM recommends growers use varieties with the greatest resistance to diseases or pests: Clubroot resistant Brassicas varieties Rust resistant Leeks varieties Cavity spot resistant Carrots varieties Canker resistant Parsnip varieties Growers throughout Europe secure seeds, plants etc well in advance of the growing season in order to obtain the most vigorous seed/plants/etc with highest performance Presently there is a high demand world wide for the most vigorous quality seeds and plants Essential to order early 11

12 Seeds, Plants, Tubers, Sets etc Vigorous seeds/plants etc Combat some pests and diseases Withstand inclement weather conditions Tolerate minor nutrient deficiencies Deliver improved yield and quality 12

13 New Technologies Seed Priming for faster emergence Wide range of benefits from faster emergence Pelleting options More accurate spacing Film coating Positive influence on germination and growth Plant protection products on the coating Plant stimulants on the coating Beneficial bacteria and fungi on film coating In general seed costs have risen by 2-3 % each year over the past 4 5 years due to new innovations which must be recovered by the grower 13

14 New Technologies Transplants Brassicas and Lettuce Dummy pill ~ Gaucho for Aphid control Dead seed carrying plant protection product sown beside a live seed Advantage Target specific and reduces the amount of plant protection product in line with IPM recommendations Disadvantage Extra cost 14

15 New Technologies Crop Covers Fleece and netting covers protects against many pests Aphids Caterpillars Cabbage root fly Carrot root fly Pigeons Disadvantage Extra cost 15

16 Weed Control Reliant on new actives that have multi crop uses Stomp Aqua Wing P Dual Gold Repeated low doses Totril on Alliums Stale seed bed Flame weeder Suppression rather than full kill? Band Sprayers Weed wipers 16

17 Weed Control? 17

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19 Mechanical Weed Control Inter row grubber Inter row precision guidance system High cost option Finger Hoe 19

20 Weed Control Manual weed control Hand weeding Hand hoeing Self propelled weeding aid powered by solar panels All high cost options 20

21 What Vegetables do Supermarket Sell? Very large range of conventional and organic produce requested by customers Vegetables which leave a profit in line with shareholders expectations Fruit and vegetable departments in most supermarkets achieves possibly the highest return per m2 of shelf space of the total grocery offer 21

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23 Supermarket Share of Grocery Market Data refers to 28th May 2013 Name % Market Share in ROI **** Number of stores in ROI (approx) Tesco Supervalu + Superquinn Dunnes Stores Aldi Lidl Symbols 5.6 Others 5.8 **** Irish Independent 2nd March

24 Why Supermarkets love Vegetables!! Local Fresh Great value for money Good news story Healthy option ~ 5 a day Obesity Attractive colourful display on shelves and also on all advertising Easy to promote 2 for the price of 1 50% extra free Delivers high profit margin Promoting kitchen tools 24

25 Where do Supermarkets Purchase their Irish Vegetables? Consolidators/packers/logistic companies and larger individual growers who must: Be able to deliver quality produce at a competitive price Comply with all Irish and EC food and packaging legislation Be willing to react positively to changing market demand and offer continuous innovation Provide temperature controlled logistics and transport Supply full traceability Meet all quality requirements 25

26 Typical Quality Specification Defects % Tolerance by count /weight Diseases 0 1% Wet rot 0 1% Pests 0 1% Pest damage 0 1% Foreign bodies 0 3% Yellowing/wilting 0 1% Root blemish 0 3% Bird picking 0 2% Healed or open cracks 0 5% Soil 0 3% 26

27 Quality Standards CRF 27

28 Do Supermarkets in Ireland make IPM impossible? Majority of responsible retailers and their relevant personnel engage directly or indirectly with various growers to amend or revise the specification as necessary Some growers would neither receive definite programmes or specifications from some consolidators What implications will this have on quality, supply and IPM?? 28

29 Conclusion I believe most growers in Ireland grow quality product that compares favourably with any of our counterparts in Europe in more testing and difficult conditions Irish growers have and continue to embrace new standards and directives Growers have continued to invest in new innovations in production techniques with massive investment in field and packhouse equipment All supermarkets will have to commit to more definite programmes and embrace IPM on a partnership basis On behalf of vegetable industry I would like to acknowledge the continued help from Teagasc, Bord Bia and Dept of Agriculture 29

30 Acknowledgements The author wishes to thank the following for information used in this presentation Bord Bia Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine Irish Independent Thank you for your attention 30