WHO ARE WE?
THE BIOCONTROL NETWORK is a research and development organization based at universities and government research agencies across Canada and headquartered at the Université de
Montréal. Instituted in 2001, its mission is to reduce the use of chemical pesticides in Canada's
greenhouse and tree nursery industries worth over $2.5 billion. It does this by designing protective protocols based on the
integrated action of the natural enemies (i.e. 'biocontrol agents') of insect pests and disease organisms.
There are 58 researchers in the Network from a broad range of disciplines: biologists, mycologists,
virologists, bacteriologists and physiologists investigate the attack strategies of insects and disease
pathogens on plants; biochemists, biophysicists and cell physiologists examine the mode of action of
microbial agents and develop screening assays for pathogens active against pests; and ecologists study
the complexities of manipulating entire biological systems to control pest populations. The Network harnesses
this diverse group in a coordinated, focused way to develop biologically based approaches to pest
management and control. The Biocontrol Network is funded by Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council
(NSERC) through its Research Networks Grants program. This program supports complex research collaborations
between private and public sector partners working on common research themes where networking
provides demonstrable added advantages. Its goals are to create new knowledge and expertise
from these multi-sectorial research collaborations, transfer this to Canadian-based industries and other
organizations, and train highly qualified personnel for employment in the new economy.
The knowledge gained from these contained ecosystems will provide valued models for applications to the
open systems of farming, forestry and the larger environment.
Drs. R. Laprade (L) and J-L. Schwartz (R), Network Co-Leaders