The use of mating disruption for artichoke moth control is an innovative approach being demonstrated by INTIA within the AdvisoryNetPEST project. In 2025, this novel technique was showcased on a farm operated by SAT Agorreta in the Tudela area of the Ebro Valley, located in southern Navarra, Spain. This region is widely recognised for the production of Blanca de Tudela, a distinctive variety of artichoke that plays an important role in local agriculture.
The development of this approach originated from a Rural Development Programme (RDP) project that sought solutions to a serious pest problem affecting artichoke production. The artichoke stem borer had become particularly challenging to control, and the lack of registered products capable of providing effective management created an urgent need for alternative strategies.
Traditionally, the pest has required a minimum of four treatments during the production cycle. In this context, mating disruption emerged as a promising option to reduce pest populations and lower pest pressure across the production area. The technique works by interfering with the reproductive cycle of the pest, contributing to improved pest management without relying on conventional control methods.
One of the factors supporting the potential success of this approach is the concentration of artichoke production within a defined geographical area. Because large areas of the region are dedicated to the cultivation of Blanca de Tudela artichokes, mating disruption can be applied more effectively across a wider landscape. This coordinated implementation helps to reduce pest pressure throughout the area, improve control outcomes, and potentially decrease the number of treatments required.
Although the technique is not yet commercially available, several years of trials have been carried out and the experimental phase is now well advanced. The results obtained so far have encouraged further development and testing of the approach.
The next stage will involve a new Rural Development Programme focused on expanding the area where the technique is applied. Plans include increasing the number of hectares covered by mating disruption and implementing the approach on a larger scale. An important objective is also to involve additional farmers in the initiative, encouraging wider adoption and greater collaboration across the production area.
By extending the use of mating disruption among artichoke growers, stakeholders hope to strengthen sustainable pest management practices, reduce pest pressure in the region, and support the long-term resilience of artichoke production systems in Navarra.
