Stepping up integrated pest management

Topic description

Specific Challenge:

There is a need to develop and promote more cost-effective and sustainable Integrated Pest Management (IPM) options which are based on a holistic view of agro-ecosystems. IPM is part of EU legislation promoting the sustainable use of plant protection products (SUD^[1]). The various IPM solutions being developed across Europe all differ depending on the crops, the available climate monitoring systems, the underlying knowledge of pest populations, on pedo-climatic conditions and on the agro-ecological environment. IPM decision support systems and models developed as part of national or regional research projects usually only deal with limited aspects of crop production and are validated in regional circumstances. As a consequence, it often remains unclear what the value of such a model/system may be in other parts of Europe and what the impact of climate change could be on the validity of the model. Sharing IPM decision supporting tools at European level therefore has great potential for synergies.

Furthermore, on-farm demonstration of novel IPM tools would boost peer-to-peer learning across Europe and help farmers with daily management practices. The challenge is incorporating IPM into the entire farming system, and searching for synergies that result from taking a holistic approach in shaping farming systems.

A. [2018] Decision support systems (RIA)

Activities shall bring together the various individual IPM models and decision support systems into a platform to make them available for a wider range of geographic conditions. This user-friendly system shall be developed based on epidemiological parameters of existing decision support systems and made easily accessible to farmers and local advisers. Most processes (such as pest and disease development, crop growth, water balances, etc.) described in models/decision support systems, need detailed climate data and continuous improvement/updates. Therefore, proposals shall integrate the various local agro-meteorological networks across the EU to make it possible for all models/decision support systems offered on the platform to access and use these weather data. Activities should focus on pests and diseases for which IPM solutions are most urgently needed. The platform should enable country stakeholders such as research centres, producer organisations and advisors to select and adapt the relevant individual models/decision support systems to their specific country/region/crop context and make them available to the farmers concerned. Proposals must use an open-source approach and should fall under the concept of the 'multi-actor approach'^[2] including scientists, farmers, advisors and ICT specialists.

B. [2020] European-wide demonstration farm network (CSA)

Activities shall fuel a European-wide network of IPM demonstration farms, which make a direct link between research and practical farm management, thereby facilitating IPM uptake and knowledge-sharing among advisors and farmers. The network should consist of normal farms where farmers can learn in a peer-to-peer mode from their colleagues. Practical information on the farm techniques should be made readily available to all, using open source and open data management to enable wide and long-term sharing, possibly according to specific typologies and areas. Links with administrative databases (e.g. IACS-LPIS system in Member States) and other data sources (e.g. Copernicus earth observations) should be explored. The project should in particular incentivise the uptake of IPM practices by advisors who are using a holistic farm approach. Organic farming practices could also provide a possible source of inspiration, and forestry may be included. Besides making use of the developed decision support tools under scope A and other monitoring and warning systems, the proposals should also help promoting the variety of other existing IPM practices, comparing emerging new IPM techniques, and covering various diagnostic tools and efficient pest monitoring methods. Organic farming practices may provide a possible source of inspiration, and forestry may be included. Proposals will support the development and European-wide sharing of training modules for farmers and for advisors, including from various national/regional sources and demonstration farm programmes. These training modules should feed into the national Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS)^[3]. Projects shall seek synergies with the national or regional EIP networks and EIP Operational Groups, and provide input to and coordinate their strategy with the SCAR-AKIS Strategic Working Group. Proposals may include other IPM issues covered under the SUD such as application equipment, risk communication to society, etc. All collected knowledge should feed into the existing dissemination channels most consulted by farmers. As many “practice abstracts” prepared in the common EIP-AGRI format should be delivered as possible, including audio-visual material wherever possible. It is strongly recommended to cover as many Member States and regions as possible and to seek synergies with similar activities financed through other sources, e.g. the Common Agricultural Policy. Forestry may also be included. Proposals should fall under the concept of the 'multi-actor approach'^[4], with a consortium based on a balanced mix of actors with complementary knowledge, including participation and activation of farmers, farmers' groups and advisors to create co-ownership. In this way, in the long run, results will contribute to more sustainable agriculture by reducing exposure to pesticides of humans and animals, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, drinking water and the food chain.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 5 million for scope A and EUR 6 million for scope B would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Activities should create added value to existing projects by giving farmers throughout Europe a broader understanding of the existing knowledge on integrated pest management. This will support relevant plant health policies, more specifically the implementation of the SUD^[5] by demonstrating that IPM strategies work in a "real world" application, and in particular by

• helping farmers to incorporate IPM solutions in existing agricultural systems, with a focus on taking into account costs and benefits and interactions / with other aspects of agricultural management, thereby building resilience;
• supporting European platforms (such as the one created under scope A) for sharing and further developing IPM decision support systems, covering the various bio-geographical areas of Europe;
• broadening and adding value to the partnerships between actors, which are developing cost-effective IPM decision support systems ready for practice;
• creating an open European network of IPM demonstration farms in all EU Member States/Associated Countries and regions, sharing data and information with a long term effect available to all, where farmers can learn in a peer-to-peer mode from their colleagues on normal farms;
• increasing awareness of the available IPM toolbox and extending the range of applications, including by incentivising the take up of IPM techniques and related advisory tools by holistic oriented advisors in their daily services;
• increasing on-farm use of IPM techniques
• developing European-wide IPM training for farmers and advisors, with modules adaptable to the regional/national contexts , the various farmers' profiles and advisory services.

RRI

[1]Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides

[2]See definition of the 'multi-actor approach' in the introduction of this Work Programme part

[3]See Art 102 and 13 of the CAP proposal for the period 2021-2027

[4]See definition of the 'multi-actor approach' in the introduction to this Work Programme part.

[5]Directive 2009/128/EC on the sustainable use of pesticides