This TomatoesNZ – A Lighter Touch project aimed to reduce the reliance on agrichemical applications on greenhouse tomatoes by revitalising Integrated Pest Management (IPM) crop protection practices within the New Zealand greenhouse tomato industry. 

Major disruption to IPM in New Zealand glasshouse tomato production was caused by the incursion of the Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) in the summer of 2005/06.  

The IPM programme had to revert from use of biological control agents (BCAs) to chemical control specifically for TPP.  

This, in turn, disrupted the performance of what had been successful biocontrol of Greenhouse whitefly (GHW) with the commercially available parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa. 

Tomato growers needed a biological solution for long-term industry survival. 

Lincoln University researchers discovered Engytatus nicotianae – a native mirid bug which predates both TPP and GHW, which showed promise as a biocontrol option.  

The project applied this knowledge with trials in commercial greenhouses and developed a successful biocontrol programme for both pests.  

This five-year project involved seven greenhouse sites from Auckland to North Otago.  

A flagship project for A Lighter Touch, its success has enabled the sector to transition from agrichemical reliance to biological controls, revitalising IPM in greenhouse tomatoes. An executive summary of the final project report is available, and the full report can be requested from TomatoesNZ or ALT. 

Read about this project below, or check out Grower Resources, a video case study, and the podcast series:

• April 2023: Native predators being trialled in greenhouse tomatoes
• June 2023, NZ Grower: Native predators being trialled in greenhouse tomatoes
• August 2023: Whitefly workshop a must for tomato growers
• September 2023: New grower resources for whitefly management shared
• March 2024: Biocontrol project in tomatoes shows success
• April 2024, NZ Grower: Biocontrol project in tomatoes shows success
• August 2024: New grower resources for tomatoes IPM
• October 2024: BCA knowledge shared with growers
• November 2024: Revitalising IPM in greenhouse tomatoes
• July 2025: Commercialising biologicals in large scale greenhouses

Grower resources

Resources from this project have been brought together to form a Greenhouse Tomato Integrated Pest Management Guide.

The material in this guide is intended to provide basic understanding and guidelines as to how to identify  and control the main pests that growers have identified as being issues in New Zealand tomato crops.

It contains both action cards and a decision tree for the main pests encountered in New Zealand’s
Greenhouse Tomato Crops. Action cards give tips on identification, life cycles, potential control measures, scouting tips and some, what to do’s. Supporting this material is a series of “how to” videos.

Links to all of these resources can be found here on the TomatoesNZ website.

Watch a video case study telling the story of the project below.

The project is covered in a two episode podcast that you can listen to via aCast (below) or Spotify.