The British Columbia Hot House Growers’
Quality Control ProjectIn 1995/96, BC greenhouse growers were
increasingly concerned about the quality and
the accuracy of packaging of supplied bio-
logicals. In response to growers’ concerns,
BCGVRC funded a 3-year (1997–1999) ‘qual-
ity control’ project designed to improve the
accuracy of P. persimilis(Athios-Henriot) and
Encarsia formosaGahan packaging by provid-
ing ongoing and constructive feedback on
the quality of delivered products to partici-
pating suppliers. Results from the 3-year
study have shown that the accuracy of ship-
ments ofP. persimilis and E. formosavaried
significantly among the four participating
producers.
In 1997, 38% of examined containers of P.
persimilis were below the stated content
whereas, in 1998 and 1999, only 11% and
13% were below the stated content, respec-
tively. Some of the participating suppliers
had consistently maintained over 95% ship-
ping accuracy (Fig. 14.1; Luczynski and
Caddick, 2000). The range of product pack-
ages below the stated quantity for four par-
ticipating producers decreased from 0–57%
in 1997 to 3–15% and 4–25% in 1998 and
1999, respectively. Some of the participating
suppliers had consistently maintained over
95% of their packages at or above the stated
quantity. During the course of the project,
only six containers of P. persimilisout of 340
examined had excessive mortality, which
indicates that packing below the stated con-
tent was the main cause of lower-than-
expected counts.
In 1997, 73% of shipments of E. formosa
were below the stated content and the short-
age was reduced to 31.6% by 1998 and to
26.1% by 1999 (Fig. 14.1). Percentage of emer-
gence was added to the quantification of E.
formosa as an indirect measure of insect qual-
ity. This was done to alert producers about
possible problems in rearing, storage or
transport of wasps. Lower-than-stated con-
tent on the shipment of E. formosaalways
coincided with a low (45–65%) percentage of
emergence. This suggests that causes and
effects of poor emergence should be exam-
ined for inclusion in future quality standards.
The constructive feedback provided by
the project proved very productive and accu-
racy in quantities received matching those
claimed by suppliers of the two beneficial
species improved significantly across the BC
greenhouse vegetable industry. A quality
consultant for the BCHHGA joined the
ASTM subcommittee, became the technical
contact and writer of the standard on P. per-
similis and actively participated in drafting
several other standards. Results from this
project increased growers’ confidence in the
use of biologicals and increased their
demand for better quality assurance of sup-
plied products. They also stressed the impor-
tance of product standardization and
customer involvement in the assessment of
product quality.Merging of Producer and Customer
Approaches Under ASTM
The format of the ASTM standardization
process presented all biological control stake-
holders with a unique opportunity to work
together in addressing quality assurance
issues. The format employed by the ASTM
requires involvement of a balanced group of
producers, distributors and users of biologi-
cal control agents, academics and govern-
ment regulatory agencies in the process. In
1999, the BC quality control project broad-
ened its objectives to include participation in
the development of standards for biological
control agents through ASTM. Quantification
methods used during the quality control pro-
ject have been incorporated into two of the
ASTM standards balloted in autumn 2001.
Standards are in process for 14 species and
three standards have been balloted and rati-
fied (Table 14.1). The drafts that have been
submitted for ballot are:- Standard specification for Phytoseiulus
persimilis (Athias-Henriot) (Acarina:
Phytoseiidae). - Standard specification for Encarsia formosa
Gahan (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). - Standard specification for information
included with packaging of multicellular
biological control organisms.
212 C.S. Glenister et al.