Biological control through acclimatisation against invasive alien plants: a classic approach that is not so classic in France.

Abstract :

In France, current methods of controlling invasive alien plants (IAPs) are mainly limited to mechanical and chemical control. These methods are costly, ineffective in the long term and increasingly unpopular with the public due to concerns about the use of chemicals. Globally, classical biological control or biological control through acclimatisation (BAC) is used successfully to manage many IAS. This method aims to restore the ecological balance disrupted by these IAS, which are generally introduced without their natural enemies. The process involves selecting and assessing the risks of introducing biological control agents specific to IAS into the environment, then obtaining regulatory approvals before their release. The aim of these releases is to reduce the abundance of these IAS below a threshold acceptable to the various stakeholders.

In this presentation, I will discuss the context and challenges associated with the future use of this method in France. I will highlight targets with high potential for LBA. These potential targets have been identified using a system based on existing knowledge about the impact of EPPs, the effort required to implement an LBA programme, and the feasibility and chances of success of such programmes. I will also present the first initiatives to use BAA, in particular the use of the leaf miner Ophraella communa to control ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and the feasibility study for a BAA programme against Datura stramonium, two projects currently being developed at ISA.

The seminar can also be followed on Zoom:

https://inrae-fr.zoom.us/j/5774848300