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Wageningen University & Research has reappointed Prof. Dr. ir. Gerben Messelink for five more years as Special Professor of Resilient Cropping Systems with Biological Pest Control.

The appointment is supported financially by Interpolis through Innovatiefonds Hagelunie and Biobest. Messelink's work focuses on enhancing greenhouse horticulture's reliance on natural pest control methods.

He will develop the standing army approach, which studies the long-term establishment of beneficial insects in greenhouses and their synergistic effects on pest management. His objective is to bridge ecological research with practical pest management solutions for growers. Additionally, climate change is leading to new invasive pest species, emphasizing the need for effective biological control strategies.