header-banner-beetle-banks_1.jpg
The Future

Insect Crop Combat: Beetles vs Aphids

From the moment we plant our food in the ground to the moment we eat it, there’s always something else looking to get a bite too.

Whether fruit, veg or cereal, crops are a tasty morsel for many living things all the way through the process. Insects, for example, can be one of our biggest food foes. One method farmers use to protect their crops is something called beetle banks.

A beetle bank is a strip of land in the middle of a crop field specifically created for insects, not for crops. Beetle banks are intentionally put there to act as a home for aphid-eating insects and spiders. These beetle banks were the brainy idea of UK farmers from the early 1990s. The concept is simple, yet effective. Click through the slides below to find out more.

Related articles

Most viewed

The Future

Insect Crop Combat: Beetles vs Aphids

Luke Cridland

From the moment we plant our food in the ground to the moment we eat it, there’s always…

The Future

Did GMOs save papayas in Hawaii?

Marie Lödige

I’m not the biggest fan of papayas. But I know some people love it. Would you believe me if I…

Human Stories

Agro Robots | Which Robots Actually Work On Farms?

Annabel Slater

Harvesting fruit and vegetables is repetitive and arduous. The human workforce is dwindling due to…

The Future

Urban Farming | Grow Your Own Food

Kelly Oakes

When we think of farming, we imagine rural landscapes with huge fields extending as far as the eye…

The Future

EU Green Deal: 5 Ways Policy Might Impact Our Food System

Madhura Rao

The European Commission recently announced a ‘Farm to Fork’ strategy that aims to make…

The Future

AI and the Future of Flavour

Annabel Slater

Ever thought to pair oysters and kiwi? How about caviar on your white chocolate? These pairings…

Earth First

Sustainable Protein Powders | Whey vs Plant-Based Protein Supplements

Aran Shaunak

Whether for health reasons or in an effort to improve athletic performance, many people turn to…

The Future

Why Trust In Our Food System Matters

Marie Lödige

Trust is very personal, and we all define it a little bit differently. Most often, we associate…

Earth First

Microalgae | 4 Interesting Ways To Eat Algae

Melissa Vanderheyden

They contain more proteins than steak, and more iron than spinach. They also grow in salt water,…

The Future

What is the True Cost of Milk Production?

Katharina Kropshofer

Milk has been harvested for more than 11,000 years, when shepherds in the Middle East started to…

The Future

Farming The Food Chain | Low Trophic Aquaculture

Oliver Fredriksson

If I said ‘seafood’ to you, what springs to mind? Chances are ‘low trophic’…

The Future

Regenerative Agriculture | A Portrait in Greece

Toon Lambrechts

Agriculture and nature have always been at odds with each other. Food production puts an enormous…

Keep updated with the latest news about your food with our newsletter

Follow Us