Abstract
PEST CONTROL MANAGEMENT IN A TOMATO PROCESSING PLANT IN NORTHERN ITALY
Pest control management in a food factory has to deal both with problems common to different
types of production caused by ubiquitous pests, and with problems typical of a specific production
chain, as well as particular critical issues related to the location of a given plant in a specific
geographical and environmental context and during a certain period of time. With regard to the
sector of vegetable preserves, and specifically tomatoes, the problem must be examined in the
different environments and on the foodstuff, and the stages of processing, their location and the
product being processed and finished should be considered. This therefore involves taking into
consideration the surroundings, the outdoor areas where the tomatoes are delivered and washed,
and after processing are stored in drums prior to sale, the warehouse sheds communicating with
the outside, the sequence of closed premises and machinery used for processing, and the product
being processed, finished and possibly packaged. The various critical points and practices
adopted are considered in this research with reference to a factory which produces double tomato
concentrate, diced and fine pulp processed tomatoes and tomato sauce and is located in the
agricultural context of the Po Valley. The proximity of crops, hedges, irrigation canals, and also
of livestock farms and a composting center, contributes to the multiplication, both qualitatively
and quantitatively, of local wild vertebrates (micromammals, reptiles) and invertebrates (insects
and other arthropods, molluscs) which enter the premises. Among the flying insects, a significant
share comprises flies (muscids, calliphorids, sarcophagids), which are contrasted externally along
the perimeter with insecticidal baits, while jets of air hinder their entry through the doors and
sticky threads intercept them inside. The windows are protected with fine mosquito nets. Sticky
traps on the ground for crawling insects and light traps on the walls for flying insects (including
among others drosophilids, but sometimes also the abundant presence of the micetophagid beetle
Typhaea stercorea) protect warehouses and the premises in general. The problem of bedbugs
(pentatomids), which in autumn find abundant shelter on pallets and drums outdoors, has grown
significantly with the recent arrival in northern Italy of the allochthonous species Halyomorpha
halys. The fight against murids is carried out by means of a double outer ring of bait dispensers.
Useful monitoring is carried out on the finished and processed product through analysis checking
for solid impurities, using for example the filth-test. The company exports most of the product and
its customers are very aware of the problems of infestation and contamination, so it is particularly
careful as regards prevention.
Titolo tradotto del contributo | [Autom. eng. transl.] Management of parasite defense in a canning industry in northern Italy |
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Lingua originale | Italian |
Titolo della pubblicazione ospite | Atti del 10° Simposio "La difesa antiparassitaria nelle industrie alimentari e la protezione degli alimenti" |
Pagine | 229-244 |
Numero di pagine | 16 |
Volume | 10° |
Stato di pubblicazione | Pubblicato - 2020 |
Evento | 10° Simposio "La difesa antiparassitaria nelle industrie alimentari e la protezione degli alimenti" - Piacenza - Italia Durata: 20 set 2017 → 22 set 2017 |
Convegno
Convegno | 10° Simposio "La difesa antiparassitaria nelle industrie alimentari e la protezione degli alimenti" |
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Città | Piacenza - Italia |
Periodo | 20/9/17 → 22/9/17 |
Keywords
- Val Padana
- industria del pomodoro
- infestanti
- pest control management