New data-sets about impact of climate change on agricultural pest insects

Published on 12/07/2018

In the framework of its environmental research project “Warning and advisory platform for the main pests and diseases in the major crops in Luxembourg “ (SENTINELLE), the Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) has developed new data-sets about the impact of climate change on agricultural pest insects

Studies dealing with impact of climate change on agriculture are of highest interest for political decision-takers to develop national adaptation strategies. Next to the impact of agricultural techniques to environment, addressing the challenges of a changing environment to agriculture in a holistic approach is one of the main approach of LIST’s activities in Environmental Sensing and Modelling, and especially in Agro-Environmental-Systems.

The successful results of SENTINELLE - funded by the Administration of technical agricultural services (ASTA) - were presented by Dr Michaël Eickermann from LIST at the occasion of the European Congress of Entomology (ECE 2018) that took place on 2-6 July 2018 in Naples (IT). 

Starting in 2011, Dr Eickermann and the climatologist Dr Jürgen Junk (LIST) developed projections about the impact of climate change on migration periods of pest insects in oilseed crops for Luxembourg and the Greater Region. Based on different emission scenarios, the scientist explained to the audience that a shifting of migration to an earlier on-set in a range of three days per decade can be expected in the near future. Especially for the pollen beetle, a very serve pest in oilseed rape, a shifted migration to early March is possible, leading to an increased risk for host-plants.

Finally, Dr Eickermann presented the latest findings in forecasting the population density of pest insects in oilseed crops under current and future climate change and discussed the pest status of several species in a changing environment. Additionally, new data-sets were presented showing an earlier start as well as a prolongation of the vegetation period in the future. 

Participating in ECE 2018 where about 1,000 participants came from more than 65 countries was a good opportunity for LIST. Indeed, the congress was an opportunity to strengthen already established contacts with other institutions as well as making new networks. New project ideas were discussed to improve competitive joint research and therefore enforcing the international visibility of LIST.

> For any further information on this topic, please contact Michaël Eickermann via email. 

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