Crop Cultivar Mixtures for Enhanced Biocontrol: Field Trial Findings

This best practice sheet outlines findings from the EcoStack project on using crop cultivar mixtures to enhance pest biocontrol and biodiversity in European agriculture. Field trials (2019–2021) across eight countries show that specific barley and wheat cultivar pairs reduce aphid infestations and disease pressure, particularly under high pest pressure. Results highlight strong regional and climatic dependencies, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) playing a key role in plant-pest interactions. Physiological changes in mixed crops suggest improved stress tolerance. The study, funded by EU Horizon 2020 (2018–2023), supports sustainable farming by reducing pesticide reliance and promoting ecological resilience through tailored, location-specific cultivar combinations.