New pest biocontroller for crop protection

SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba, Mar 30 (ACN) The National Center of Applied Electromagnetism (CNEA) has designed a magnetic field-based pest biocontroller to preserve crops and increase food production.

Project researcher Sianna Mas told ACN that this technique uses the trichoderma fungus as a biological control agent to protect crops from pathogenic microorganisms, replaces the use of chemical fertilizers for the benefit of the environment and the production of healthier foodstuffs, and stimulates growth by increasing plant resistance.

She also stressed that the new biocontroller is the result of joint work by a multidisciplinary team of the scientific institution, attached to Universidad de Oriente, and a number of agricultural entities.

CNEA has in place various programs designed to promote sustainable agriculture, including projects to develop irrigation with magnet-treated water and the use of magnetic conditioners in coffee plantations.