Wireworm continues to be a problem for potato and carrot growers and is increasingly being seen in other crops such as cereals, field beans, sugar beat, onions and maize. The pattern of wireworm damage is changing, however the industry is yet to understand why and how these damage patterns are altering. 

After launching in 2022, the project achieved substantial progress in developing a solution for sustainable wireworm control. The desired outcomes of the next stage of Enigma I research will include:

• Working with each project partner to assess their wireworm risk, dependent on local conditions, soil type, crop and wireworm species present.
• Analysing the efficacy of control measures on-farm, including natural control methods e.g. carabid beetles
• Investigating the relationship between cover crop seed mixes that can be funded through the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and wireworm
• Building a bespoke risk assessment for each project partner, along with a suite of actions and options to reduce wireworm populations.

TO EXPRESS AN INTEREST IN BEING A PARTNER OF THE SECOND PHASE OF ENIGMA I - SUSTAINABLE WIREWORM IPM*

Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) was first reported in the UK in 2019 and affects tomato and sweet pepper crops. Since then, it has caused significant economic losses for growers, and has the potential to continue to impact commercial production due to reduced crop quality and yield.

The Fera team worked in partnership with growers on in field detection and surveillance methods as well as understanding resistance and tolerance in new varieties.

With the support of industry partners, ENIGMA II focused on key outputs including:

• A scientific assessment of currently available approaches for infield detection of ToBRFV on leaf, fruit and swab (Dipstick, LAMP, RPA).
• Working with project partners to develop ‘holistic’ surveillance approaches to develop a way to monitor a site across a growing season in the most effective way.
• The development of practical grower-led suitable diagnostics through advancements in the development and validation of automated extraction to results systems.

Vertical and controlled environment farming is an increasing part of UK, European, and global food production. However, this emerging and growing industry is currently not effectively represented in terms of certification standards.

This project looked to understand and develop standardised food safety approaches that can be used by vertical and controlled environment producers, and the wider industry, to provide a consistent approach to food safety control.

With the support of industry partners, ENIGMA III focused on key outputs including:

• A desk-based review of the guidance, standards, and legislation currently in place globally concerning vertically and controlled environment farming.
• Working with project partners of the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC) and vertical and controlled environment farming companies in developing grower-led and industry leading approaches to food safety guidance and standards.
• Scientifically validated approaches for individual vertical farming companies to further embed food safety in their businesses.