The emergence of new pests in greenhouse crops in southeastern Spain, such as Thrips parvispinus and Scirtothrips, has raised growing concern among producers. In the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns, losses caused by these pests have been significant, placing renewed emphasis on biological control as a priority strategy in crop protection.
In this context, IBMA España, which represents companies in the biocontrol sector, held an informational session on June 17 in El Ejido under the slogan “Biological control: the priority strategy against pests and diseases in greenhouse crops.” The event brought together institutional representatives, farmers’ organisations, agronomists, and specialist companies to collectively address the challenges posed by emerging pest threats.
“No one can deny that biological control works and that it is the only available market option for controlling pests without generating resistance, leaving chemical residues, or requiring safety intervals,” stated Marisé Borja, president of IBMA España.
Building the future without forgetting the past
“The Almerian countryside must build the future without forgetting the past,” Borja stressed, referring to the 2006 “pepper crisis” caused by residues of isofenphos-methyl.
Fernando Paniagua, president of COITAAL, directed a message especially to younger agronomists: “We cannot go through that again. That crisis seriously damaged the image of the sector. We must act with rigour and responsibility.” He also announced the creation of an anonymous whistleblower channel to report malpractice.
That episode marked a turning point, triggering the industry’s shift towards biological control and positioning it as a global reference. However, in recent years, progress has slowed and even regressed in melon and watermelon crops.
Juan Tomás Cano, president of Hortyfruta, noted that in 2023/24, the area under biological control grew by just 7% compared to ten years earlier. He warned of declining confidence in biocontrol among some growers. “The success of biological control depends on proper application, from the start of the season and in a coordinated manner.”
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The tools are there—and in abundance: the Spanish market offers over 20 specific biological solutions for thrips control (see table).
Francisco Góngora, mayor of El Ejido, described biological control as a “before and after” moment for greenhouse farming and urged stakeholders not to lower their guard.
Biocontrol companies (Agrobío, Biobest, Bioline, CBC, and Koppert) reiterated the need for preventive application, professional technical guidance, and continued innovation. “We have effective tools to combat Thrips parvispinus and Scirtothrips, but they must be used correctly and from the beginning of the crop cycle.”
Public investment backs biocontrol
José Antonio Aliaga, Regional Delegate for Agriculture, underscored the essential role of biological control in reducing pesticide residues in Almeria’s fruit and vegetable exports. “Our commercial reputation is at stake,” he warned, noting that the Andalusian government has managed more than €36 million in subsidies for auxiliary insect acquisition over the past three years.
The regional government also convened the Plant Health Working Group with Almeria’s horticultural sector to assess the phytosanitary outlook for 2024/25, marked by the severe impact of Thrips parvispinus in peppers. Current efforts include bolstering the Green Commitment campaign, monitoring plant waste and nurseries, conducting technical meetings, and continuously updating control strategies on the RAIF website. They have also expanded testing of active substances and sampling.
IFAPA shared promising research advances in the biocontrol of Thrips parvispinus, and it was agreed to reassess the situation at the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
“Biocontrol in spring is falling behind”
Before the official 2024/25 season summary was released, José Antonio Aliaga revealed that biological control in melon and watermelon had declined. “Historically, releasing beneficial insects in these crops hasn’t taken hold. The excuse [from growers] is always that the crop cycle is too short, that it’s not effective—but we’ve always pushed for it, and we must keep pushing.”
In 2023/24, biological control was applied to just 710 hectares of melon in Almeria—far from the 4,901-hectare peak in 2008/09. In watermelon, the area reached 1,420 hectares, compared to a record 2,835 hectares in 2010/11.
