Blooming greenhouses: enhancing biocontrol with functional plant diversity?

Abstract: Functional plants are increasingly recognized as a key factor in sustainable pest
control, yet their application around greenhouses remains underexplored. This ongoing
study examines two types of functional plant strips established outside greenhouses: one
excluding thrips-attractive plants and another optimized for aphid control. These functional
plant strips can provide resources for natural enemies that then may migrate into
greenhouses and contribute to biological control. We will monitor natural enemy and pest
populations in and around 20 greenhouses across the Netherlands in the summer of 2025
and 2026. Conventional grass strips serve as a reference treatment. We will present our
preliminary monitoring data and an overview of the next steps. This research aims to
provide practical guidelines for strengthening biocontrol in greenhouses and reduce the
dependency on chemical insecticides.