Parmi les lauréats du «Sival d'or 1998»,concours de l'innovation du Salon Sival d'Angers, un automate de désinfection par la vapeur des sols maraîchers a reçu un Sival d'or, son automatisme permettant des gains importants en temps et en coût. Deux des matériels cités concernent eux aussi la protection des plantes: un appareil de désherbage thermique a l'originalité d'associer à cette action thermique celle d'un binage et d'une restructuration du sol; une gamme de pulvérisateurs traînés. Enfin un produit phytosanitaire a lui aussi obtenu une citation: cet adjuvant pour fongicide vigne anti-botrytis d'origine biologique stimule les défenses naturelles de la plante contre la Pourriture grise. Amongst the winners of the ""Sival d'Or 1998"", a competition for innovation at the SIVAL trade fair in Angers, a robot which can disinfect soil using steam was awarded one of the three Sival d'Ors. Being automatic, the robot produces substantial gains in terms of both time and money.
Two other pieces of equipment receiving commendations also had an application in the field of plant protection: firstly, a thermal weed-control apparatus, which weeds, hoes and repositions the soil all-in-one; then there was also a range of pull-along sprays which were commended for the progress made in terms of the turbine, the shape of the tanks and of user and environment protection.
Finally, a plant protection product was also highly commended : an organic (algae extract) additive for anti-botrytis grapevine fungicides, which stimulates the plant's natural defence mechanism, of particular interest in the control of grey mould.
