| At
the world level, a large array of pathogens (fungi,
virus, insects...) can cause problems and affect reliability
and quality of tobacco production. European productions,
and in particular, French, do not make exception. Problems
related to pathogen control are
shared by all the tobacco business. They can
affect tobacco from sowing, up to cigarette storage.
Generally, there is not only one method to solve a problem
arising from a particular pathogen. It is mostly through
a combination of several approaches that quality is
ensured.
Upstream,
development of these combinations, in forms compatible
with production
processes, requires a thorough knowledge of the implied
pathogens. In these domains, the Tobacco
Institute
works
with different research organizations (INRA,
Universities), in particular for the European project
VRTP Impact
(Virus Resistant Transgenic Plant Impact).
Downstream, tests
of application of new techniques or methods are necessary.
When new methods prove to be interesting, the National
Interprofessional and Technical Tobacco Association
(ANITTA) takes over,
and carries out tests under real conditions of growing.
Work
completed more specifically by the Tobacco Institute
fits between
these two poles:
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