On Tuesday 28 February, the European Commission published a database providing an overview of currently available ‘integrated pest management’ methods, together with a study assessing their effectiveness and the prospects for their future adoption.
The control of pests that damage crops and plants is necessary both to safeguard food security and to ensure a viable income for farmers for their production.
The database includes about 1,300 examples of practices, techniques and technologies, such as the use of crop rotation and balanced fertilisation, the monitoring of harmful organisms, targeted and reduced application and, most importantly, the preference for non-chemical pest control methods. It also includes 273 crop-specific guidelines developed by Member State national authorities and public bodies.
In parallel, a study (https://aeur.eu/f/5ix ) explores current IPM practices and their potential to help reduce dependence on chemical pesticides, their cost of implementation and their overall effectiveness.
The study also examines the main factors affecting the reduction of dependency on pesticide use and the main barriers and factors associated with it. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)