At the request of the French Minister of Agriculture and Food, INRAE ​​and the ITB have been working since August 8 on a national Research and Innovation plan to find alternative solutions to neonicotinoids (NNI) that are operative against beet jaundice sugar bowl.

The unprecedented scale observed this year with massive attacks by green aphids carrying the jaundice virus on beets, after an exceptionally mild winter, caused significant drops in yields in some regions.

INRAE ​​and ITB have been conducting research for several years to understand the mechanisms of viral diseases in field crops, particularly beets, and on alternative methods of controlling NNI. While promising avenues have been identified, to date there are no treatments with comparable effectiveness to large-scale operational NNIs and it is essential to intensify research and innovation efforts.

The plan presented today to Julien Denormandie, Minister of Agriculture and Food by the presidents of INRAE ​​and ITB, aims to strengthen research and innovation efforts around 4 main areas:

• Better understanding of the health situation
• Identification and demonstration of solutions at a cultural level
• Identification and demonstration of environmental regulation solutions for plants, crops and landscapes.

This National Research and Innovation Plan (PNRI) will benefit from additional public funding of 7 million euros for 3 years, for a total amount of more than 20 million euros with co-financing from INRAE, ITB and seed companies. He will coordinate an unprecedented research effort focused on sugar beet yellows to provide operational solutions to farmers.