The Randstad, Netherlands
Ik werk voor een schonere en gezondere wereld via verduurzaming van de landbouw. Met een voet in de wetenschap en de andere in het praktijkonderzoek, samen met andere professionals en belanghebbenden. *** I strive for a cleaner and healthier world. Growers suffer from pests, and invasive plants are one of the major threads to biodiversity worldwide. As an alternative to chemicals, we develop resilient cropping systems and ecosystems and use beneficial insects and mites for biological control. We develop and implement this in practice with professionals and stakeholders worldwide. I have the privilege to have worked in both business and in academia, and aim to connect those worlds through applied research.
Onderzoek naar duurzame en weerbare teeltsystemen, goed voor mens en omgeving. Als coördinator verantwoordelijk voor de strategie en uitvoering van ons onderzoek binnen dit thema. Als onderzoeker houd ik me graag bezig met natuurlijke plaagbeheersing.
Coordinating & investigating the introduction of the Japanese knotweed psyllid as a biocontrol agent to control invasive Asian knotweeds in Netherlands with knowledge partners, lower authorities and land managers. Promoting the uptake of weed biocontrol in Netherlands and Europe and raising awareness about this method. Supervising students (BSc, MSc, PhD) and teaching field ecology.
Our R&D team looks for solutions to control crop pests in horticulture and agriculture without chemicals, by using beneficial insects and mites. We test these in practice and provide growers with knowledge to use them optimally.
We develop and improve biological control of agricultural pests, using insects and mites as natural enemies. As a field researcher I test new solutions in practice and evaluate them with consultants and farmers. I mainly work with predatory mites and insects and supplementary feeding.
We coordinated the European COST Action 'SMARTER' with 30+ countries in 2013-2016. This assessed sustainable management options to control the allergenic and invasive common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) in Europe. We showed that the exotic leaf beetle Ophraella communa has good potential as biocontrol agent that can save millions of health costs issues resulting from the plant. Within this project, I initiated & coordinated the international Task Force Population Dynamics performing a 3-year demographic survey of European field populations with 25 teams in 17 countries. I used the data to find drivers of ragweed performance. With students I assessed the potential of the exotic leaf beetle Ophraella communa as biocontrol agent by integrating experimental field work and population modeling.
I led projects on the control of mite and insect pests of ornamental plants such as tulip bulbs and nursery stock. I performed the acquisition, coordination, execution, analysis and communication of research projects to stakeholders. I co-initiated and coordinated a farmer learning group 'tulpengalmijt onder de knie' (praktijknetwerk in de landbouw).