15 March 2022

Molecular Biology and Genetics Club organized an event on "The goal of organic agriculture is to minimize the damage".

Professor of Biological Sciences Tariq Butt was the guest of the Zoom event organized by Üsküdar University Molecular Biology and Genetics Club. Butt, who completed his undergraduate degree in Zoology and Botany at Swansea University, talked about his studies on the use of biocides instead of pesticides in organic agriculture.

Tariq Butt is Professor of Biological Sciences at Swansea University, where he holds a BSc in Botany and Zoology and a PhD in Fungal pathogens of aphids. He leads the Biocontrol and Natural Products (BAP) group at Swansea University. The aim of this group is to develop sustainable, environmentally friendly products and strategies for the control of arthropod pests of global socio-economic importance.

Tariq Butt said the following about Organic Agriculture at the event; "For a sustainable organic agriculture, there is a limitation on the use of chemicals. The most important alternative to chemical pesticides is biological control using natural enemies. Organic agriculture can be defined as an approach that aims to create an environmentally and economically sustainable agricultural production system. In organic agriculture, biological control gives much more effective results when applied with other appropriate control methods. In organic agriculture, the goal in pest control is not to eliminate the pest completely, but to minimize the level of damage of the pest. However, it is entomopathogens that will be used to control pests on plants grown in a production period in an organic farming area. Butt is working on Entomopathogenic fungi for this. Entomopathogenic fungi are fungi that can act as a parasite of insects and kills or severely disables them."

He obtained the larvae of chestnut weevil and chestnut tortrix from a chestnut processing factory in Aydın, Turkey, in his studies on chestnuts, which are very expensive and scarce in the United Kingdom. In addition, Yarkın Çetin and Merve Gözdenur Demirbek, graduates of Üsküdar University, worked with Butt and published a paper. Currently, Yarkın and Merve are continuing their PhD studies in Spain and Italy.

Representatives of the Molecular Biology and Genetics Club stated that similar activities will continue in the spring semester.


Views