creators_name: Paull, John
editors_name: Tillett, Anne
type: journalp
datestamp: 2008-10-01
lastmod: 2009-08-20 14:41:24
metadata_visibility: show
title: Trophobiosis Theory: A Pest Starves on a Healthy Plant
ispublished: pub
subjects: environment
subjects: 8planthealth
subjects: 1organics
subjects: 5soil
subjects: 2farming
subjects: 4plant
full_text_status: public
keywords: trophobiosis theory, plant health, healthy plants, organic farming, organic agriculture, pests, pesticides, herbicides, side effects, Francis Chaboussou, trophikos, National Institute of Agricultural Research, INRA, France.
abstract: Trophobiosis Theory is a thesis proposed by Francis Chaboussou, an agronomist of the France’s National Institute of Agricultural Research (INRA), in “Healthy Crops: A New Agricultural Revolution”. After two decades, this important book is finally available in English. Trophobiosis has been characterised by the former Minister for the Environment in Brazil, Jose Lutzenberger, as: “a pest starves on a healthy plant” (1995). The essence of Trophiobiosis theory is that pests shun healthy plants, pesticides weaken plants, and weakened plants are more open to pests and disease, and hence pesticides precipitate pest attack and disease susceptibility and thus induce a cycle of further pesticide use. 
date: 2008-09
date_type: published
publication: Journal of Biodynamic Agriculture Australia
number: 76
publisher: Biodynamic Agriculture Australia Ltd.
pagerange: 51-54
refereed: yes
referencetext: Chaboussou, F., 1985 (English 2004 trans.), Healthy Plants, A New Agricultural Revolution, Jon Carpenter, Charlbury, UK.

Loening, U., 2004, in Chaboussou, 2004 trans., Healthy Plants, A New Agricultural Revolution, Jon Carpenter, Charlbury, UK.

Lutzenberger, J., 1995, Pleading for a Poison-Free Agriculture, excerpt available at <www.lindros.co.za>.
Lutzenberger, J., 2000, in Chaboussou, 2004 trans., Healthy Plants, A New Agricultural Revolution, Jon Carpenter, Charlbury, UK.

Northbourne, L., 1940, Look to the Land, Dent, London.

Pfeiffer, E., 1934, The Biological-Dynamic Method of Rudolf Steiner: New Methods in Agriculture and their Effects on Food-Stuffs, Rudolf Steiner Publishing Co., London.

Pfeiffer, E., 1958, in Steiner, 2004 reprint, Agriculture Course, Rudolf Steiner Press, Forest Row, UK

Steiner, R., 1924 (English 1958, trans., 2004 reprint), Agriculture Course, Rudolf Steiner Press, Forest Row, UK.
citation: Paull, John (2008) Trophobiosis Theory: A Pest Starves on a Healthy Plant. Journal of Biodynamic Agriculture Australia (76), pp. 51-54.
document_url: http://orgprints.org/14750/1/14750.pdf