If grapes have immunity, they won't be afraid of disease: Liu Xinglong's 27-year secret
Grapes originated in temperate regions such as Europe and West Africa. Delicate as they are, when they arrive in Taiwan's hot, humid environment they fall ill easily, and once disease strikes it runs rampant through the whole vineyard, leaving farmers in tears with no way to cry out. In the government's own plant protection handbook, the pests and diseases that are officially "on the record" number as many as nineteen, and the variety and density of pesticides applied to grapes are relatively more frequent than for other fruit trees.
Researcher Liu Xinglong, who retired from the Taichung District Agricultural Research and Extension Station on August 2, devoted almost half of his 27-year research career to grapesgrapesgrape growers in central Taiwan now use it, and because phosphorous acid is an organic material, farmers who switch no longer need to spray conventional pesticides. This not only greatly reduces pesticide use, it even opens the door for grape growers to move toward zero pesticide residue.
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Bringing Research Back to the Field: "Rebuilding Farmers' Confidence Matters Most"
After so many years studying grapes
Doing grape research often means rushing to farmers' fields to clean up the aftermath. During grape season, making 4 or 5 trips a week is common. Liu Xinglong says that sometimes when an entire orchard comes down with ripe rot, farmers become so disheartened they dare not plant grapes again. After all, grapes have a long growing period, and from early pruning and pesticide management to bagging, every action requires investment. When all that investment comes to nothing, it hurts deeply.
"So often when we go to the fields, besides offering improved methods, we also hope to help farmers with psychological support and rebuild their confidence. That is very meaningful to me."