In the United Kingdom, large-scale studies on the effectiveness of biological fungicides for wheat are starting.

A new series of trials will provide information on the potential of biofungicides for controlling septoria in winter wheat. AHDB Horticulture (Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board under the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) invested in the research on biopesticides. Jason Poole, AHDB's technical content manager, reported this. A contract worth £178,467 with a consortium of organizations SRUC, Niab, and ADAS AHDB was awarded following a competitive research study in 2025. Jason Poole noted that the trials will answer the key question: what is better to apply against wheat septoria—biofungicide or increasing the rate of standard fungicide. To this end, over two growing seasons (2025/26 and 2026/27), AHDB will apply five control treatments of biofungicides to crops. The other four control options will include an intensified baseline spraying program at T1 and T2 phases: 25% of the field application rate (treatment 2), 50% (treatment 3), 75% (treatment ...