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HORTICULTURE

Certis Belchim and Certis Illuminating the
Biologicals win Gold in the future: The shift

Bernard Blum to LED in tomato

Award 2024 cultivation

By Erwin de Kok
INCLUDEPICTURE MERGEFORMATINET
The( tomato( cultivation( industry( has(
faced( numerous( challenges( over( the(
years,(ranging(from(soaring(energy(pric<
es(to(the(devastating(impact(of(diseases(
like(the(rugose(virus.(However,(there(is(
a(renewed(sense(of(optimism(sweeping(
through(the(industry,(thanks(to(the(sta<
bilization( of( energy( costs( and( advance<
Toltek®( received( the(Gold(Bernard( will be distributed by Certis Belchim in Eu- ments(in(technology(and(genetics.(
Blum( Award( 2024(for( the( most( innova< rope.
tive(biocontrol(product(at(the(Annual(Bio< As a Sales Specialist in tomato at BASF |
control(Industry(Meeting((ABIM)(2024(in( Take-All pressure has been increasing and Nunhems, I have had the privilege of wit-
Basel(in(October.(The(award,(presented( half the cereal area of Europe is now a!ect- nessing transformative trends in tomato
annually(by(IBMA,(is(judged(on(the(cri< ed. The disease causes necrosis of the plant cultivation across Europe. Among these
WHULD VFLHQWL¿F IRXQGDWLRQ DQG PHULW roots, reducing their development and nu- trends, the adoption of LED lighting stands
WKH GHJUHH RI LQQRYDWLRQ FRQWULEXWLRQ trient uptake and resulting in up to a 50% out as a game-changer, driven by the ur-
WR VXVWDLQDEOH DJULFXOWXUH DQG FRPPHU< gent need for more sustainable and e#-
cial(opportunity. drop in yield. Crop rotation is important as cient farming practices.
the disease risk increases in short rotation
Toltek is the first biological fungicide situations, where, for example, wheat is LEDs have emerged as a major trend in
for Take-All disease in cereals (wheat and tomato cultivation, gaining momentum
barley) to be registered in Europe. The ac- grown after wheat. about three years ago when the surge in
tive ingredient is Bacillus amyloliquefa- Certis Belchim has been working on its energy prices compelled growers to reeval-
ciens strain D747, a unique bio-fungicide uate their strategies. These energy-e#cient
strain that provides effective protection unique Take-All prediction model, quantify- lighting systems not only contribute to
against Take-All disease in cereals (Gaeu- ing factors conducive to the development lower energy consumption but also reduce
mannomyces tritici) when used as a seed of Take-All (rotation, soil, humidity, weather heat output, making them a perfect "t for
treatment. It performs consistently in the etc.) and creating a mapping system from a the precise environmental control required
field: testing on a large collection of can- database of over 1500 "eld trials. From this, in tomato cultivation. What truly sets LEDs
didate Take-All strains using an innovative the company has created a decision-mak- apart is their versatility in supporting a wide
screening process, showed Toltek to be ef- ing tool to support distributors and farm- range of light recipes tailored to the speci"c
fective against 95% of them. The product is growth stages and needs of tomato plants.
fully compatible with industry seed treat- ers in identifying and quantifying Take-All This level of precision in controlling the
ment facilities. risk "eld by "eld and advising farmers ac- light spectrum ensures that tomatoes can
cordingly. Toltek should be recommended
This innovative biocontrol product re- be grown year-round, resulting in improved
sults from a collaboration project between where the Take-All risk is low to medium yield and superior quality.
Certis Biologicals and Certis Belchim. Ku- and Latitude, currently the only alternative
miai Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. isolated solution, where disease pressure is likely to At BASF | Nunhems, we are fully committed
the Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 be higher. to integrating these developments into our
in 2000 and licensed the strain to Certis breeding and cultivation strategies. By imple-
Biologicals, who developed the fermenta- The team of over 50 people involved in menting LED lighting at an early stage in our
tion production process and the formula- the development of Toltek is delighted to genetic research, we aim to provide growers
tion. Working closely with Certis Belchim, see the results of their e!orts rewarded with with the tomato varieties they need to maxi-
who have been responsible for product the Gold Award from Bernard Blum 2024. mize the bene"ts of innovative lighting con-
field development over the past five years, The innovative new seed treatment product cepts, ultimately helping them achieve opti-
Certis Biologicals registered the product in mal production levels while reducing costs.
Europe. Registration was granted in France will provide European cereal growers with a This commitment also re$ects our dedication
in 2024 and is expected in United King- valuable solution for the protection of their to sustainability, ensuring that we can meet
dom, Germany, Ireland, Belgium, Austria cereal crops from a critical disease in a sus- the demands of the future without exploiting
and Czech Republic in 2025. The product tainable way. Circle 19 on enquiry card our planet's resources. Circle 20 on enquiry card
16 Vol. 40 No. 8