Field trials highlight next gen crop protection

Significant differences emerged between new crop protection products evaluated through A Lighter Touch efficacy and residue trials last season, giving valuable insight into potential new tools for growers.

ALT Technical Lead Bruno Gatimel says several trials completed during 2025-26 saw enough pest or disease pressure to allow meaningful differentiation between treatments, helping identify products with potential practical value for growers.

“In many cases, strong performing treatments were identified, demonstrating effective suppression of target pests or diseases under field conditions,” he says.

“We saw promising candidates emerging, both in terms of efficacy, and as potential alternatives for organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids which are being phased out, and older products which are usually broad-spectrum and non-selective to beneficials.”

In total, 49 innovative products were evaluated across 24 trials, targeting a range of key pests and diseases highlighted as crop protection gaps by A Lighter Touch programme partners.

These included whitefly, thrips and aphids as well as sector specific foliar diseases.

Gatimel says results were particularly pleasing given a challenging season, with colder weather in early summer in many regions causing inconsistent pest pressure.

This meant 30% of planned trials did not proceed because pest pressure was too low, or there was not enough time before the crop was harvested to apply the required number of treatments.

Data gathered through efficacy and residue trials supports access to innovative crop protection products for growers and their industries, he says.

For products to achieve registration or a new label claim, robust data and multiple sets of data are required, including several seasons of New Zealand trial results.

Trial data also help give crop protection companies insights into product development and market opportunities, such as potential for use in a sector that was not their original primary focus.

And the information supports improved management of pesticide resistance in the longer term by providing growers with a broader range of crop protection options, Gatimel says.

Latest results have been discussed with ALT sector group partners and owners of the crop protection products involved.

Trial planning is underway for the coming season.

It will be the last undertaken as part of the ALT programme, which ends in March next year.

The best candidates from last season’s trials will be further tested in 2026-27, along with any new products in development.

As well, trials which did not proceed last season will be rescheduled for the coming season.