This project is focused on increasing knowledge and understanding about the use of biologicals and how to successfully integrate them into a crop protection programme.

It was developed with extension specialists Scarlatti, and with input from an A Lighter Touch industry advisory group, which included crop protection companies and product group extension advisors.

The project has three components which will run at the same time, being:

• an initial biologicals extension work with all A Lighter Touch product groups. This will assist growers and agronomists in learning how to evaluate changes to their crop protection programme, therefore enabling growers to fully understand their existing practice and the impact any change would have before integrating a new practice.
• an extension capability needs map. This will involve carrying out a gaps analysis of extension capability in the industry, identifying where further capability, resource, and or training is required, and developing a plan to address these gaps.
• a case study, which will look at a biological product which has previously been integrated into a crop protection programme, and will highlight lessons which can feed into an extension plan for the introduction of future biological products.

Read an article about this project here.