July 4, 2023

The Plant Health Commission has contacted the Chilean Forest Phytosanitary Protection Consortium (CPFFC) to refine the mass rearing of key biocontrol agents and has begun work on the parasitoids Anaphes nitens and Cleruchoides noackae, within the framework of the contractual agreement with La Biofábrica. The CPFFC has been supplying biocontrol agents to private companies and the Chilean public forestry sector for over 30 years.

Rodrigo Ahumada, a member of the Consortium’s board representing Arauco, has offered to act as a liaison and coordinate a tour to visit the laboratories and facilities of the CPFFC.

It is considered a good opportunity, given the initial stage of the agreement with the Bio factory where the knowledge and experience of more than 30 years in the breeding and release of biocontrol agents can be incorporated.

A member of the Health Commission, accompanied by a technician from the Biofactory, will participate in the tour to visit the laboratories and all aspects of production, especially the rearing of A. nitens. A field trip is also planned to observe Gonipterus spp. infestations firsthand and assess the severity of the damage, as well as the egg case collection process. The laboratory visit will also include observation of rearing operations involving other biocontrol agents of interest, not just A. nitens.

This activity will most likely take place in the first week of September and will take about 5 days, with 3 effective days of field and laboratory visits.