CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI – For potato growers, one of the most insidious and costly threats lurks unseen beneath the soil. Wireworms, the resilient larval stage of click beetles, can tunnel into tubers, rendering entire crops unmarketable and causing massive financial losses. With limited chemical controls available, farmers have been desperate for a viable strategy.
Now, groundbreaking research from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada offers a powerful and sustainable solution, and the global potato community is invited to learn the details. The World Potato Congress Inc. has announced a pivotal webinar, “Crop Rotation for Wireworm Control,” featuring the scientist behind the breakthrough, Dr. Christine Noronha.
Scheduled for Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. EDT, the webinar will present findings that could change the way farmers manage this pervasive pest.
A “Cryptic” Pest Meets Its Match
The challenge of wireworm management is profound. Their soil-dwelling nature makes early detection difficult, and their broad diet allows them to thrive on many crops and weeds. The phasing out of effective insecticides has only heightened the urgency for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) solutions.
“In response to the lack of viable control options, we went back to a foundational agricultural practice but applied it with new precision,” said Dr. Noronha, a Research Scientist in Entomology and IPM at the Charlottetown Research and Development Centre. “Our research evaluated specific rotation crops, and the results have been clear: a marked decrease in heavily infested fields.”
The upcoming webinar will pull back the curtain on this research, detailing which rotation strategies proved most effective in suppressing wireworm populations and protecting potato yields.
An Innovator at the Helm
The findings are the product of decades of dedicated work by Dr Noronha, a recognised leader in agricultural entomology. Her career has been defined by developing practical, innovative tools for growers. She is the inventor of the NELT™, a solar-powered trap for monitoring adult click beetles, and the “Stem Crusher” for controlling European corn borer in potatoes.
Her leadership and impactful research have earned her numerous accolades, including the Agrologist Recognition Award and the 2022 Influential Women in Canadian Agriculture award.
“Dr. Noronha’s work is a prime example of how targeted scientific research can deliver tangible solutions for the agricultural sector,” said a representative from the World Potato Congress. “We are incredibly grateful she is sharing her expertise with our global audience. This is exactly the kind of knowledge-sharing that can prevent crop loss and strengthen food security.”
The webinar promises to be an essential event for potato growers, agronomists, researchers, and anyone involved in sustainable crop production. It represents a beacon of hope, demonstrating that by working with ecological principles, one of the industry’s most stubborn adversaries can be successfully managed.
Webinar Registration:
Interested participants can register for the free webinar at the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SBlRoCqRRDqu2BaDgul4PQ#/registration
About the World Potato Congress Inc.:
The World Potato Congress Inc. is a non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting the global potato industry by facilitating the exchange of information on all aspects of potato production and utilisation. Through its events and publications, it acts as a key platform for uniting the international potato community.