Last week scientist Pierre Ramakers of Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture received the ‘Award of excellence for extraordinary contributions to augmentation biological control and its use in integrated pest management’ in Vienna. This prize is awarded annually by the Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) to persons who have special merits for biological pest control.
In 1975 Pierre Ramakers started his career at TNO. As just graduated pathologist he started working on the development of integrated pest control in vegetable cultivation under glass. After four years he was appointed as entomologist at the Experimental Station in Naaldwijk and since 2001 he is responsible for entomological research in all greenhouse cultivations at Wageningen UR Greenhouse Horticulture in Bleiswijk.
During the last 35 years Ramakers has been working on a broad spectrum of natural enemies of pest organisms: predators, predatory wasps, and fungi that are affecting insects (entomophagous fungi). His most important contribution was the development and introduction of integrated sweet pepper cultivation, a method currently used worldwide. He published in horticultural journals, at international congresses, and in handbooks on integrated control. Ramakers is a frequently consulted source of knowledge and experience for colleagues, advisors and growers.