News

EIP-AGRI activities related to sustainable use of pesticides

Geographical scope
European Union
Keywords
Pest / disease control
pesticide
Plant production and horticulture

Plant health is vital for agriculture, environment, landscape, and biodiversity. Sustaining plant health must be achieved without putting further strain on the environment. Avoiding hazardous chemicals when addressing pests protects the environment as well as pollinators, natural pest enemies, beneficial organisms, and the people and animals who depend on plants.

The Farm-to-Fork strategy highlights the need to transition to a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. The European Commission has adopted a proposal for a new Regulation on the Sustainable Use of Plant Protection Products, including EU wide targets to reduce by 50% the use and risk of chemical pesticides by 2030, in line with the EU’s Farm to Fork and Biodiversity strategies. Integrated Pest Management (IPM), low-pesticide-input pest management, is promoting under the new Regulation. IPM focuses on pest prevention and prioritises alternative pest control methods, with chemical pesticides only used as a last resort. Further information on the proposal can be found in this article, on the EU’s Sustainable use of pesticides page and in this video.

Alongside new regulations and initiatives, the EU’s innovation and research for agriculture can provide a significant contribution helping farmers and foresters to produce with a reduced use of chemical pesticides.  Many projects are already working towards reaching these targets, for example through the Rural Development Programmes 437 Operational Groups across the European Union have been financed on issues related to the sustainable use of pesticides. This represents 18% of the total number of Operational Groups currently in the database (over 2500 in August 2022).

Horizon 2020 has already funded over 30 research and innovation projects with an investment of over €160 million to protect plant health and promote integrated pest management.

Find out below what the EIP-AGRI network has been doing over the past few years to work towards these goals.

Check out the EIP-AGRI newsletter from September 2022 which is dedicated to sustainable use of pesticides.

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EIP-AGRI Focus Groups

EIP-AGRI Focus Groups are temporary groups of selected experts focusing on a specific subject, sharing knowledge and experience. Several of them have worked on issues related to plant health and Integrated Pest Management, click on each link below to find reports, factsheets and more:

EIP-AGRI events

The EIP-AGRI holds workshops and seminars on specific topics. Click on each link to find reports, presentations and more from events related to the sustainable use of pesticides:

EIP-AGRI publications

As well as the Focus Group and event reports (from above), the EIP-AGRI has produced the following publications which are related to the sustainable use of pesticides:

EIP-AGRI Videos

Watch these videos on examples of initiatives related to the sustainable use of pesticides from the EIP-AGRI network:

Inspirational ideas from the network

Articles on examples of initiatives related to the sustainable use of pesticides from the EIP-AGRI network:

Horizon projects

  • IPMWORKS - An EU-wide farm network demonstrating and promoting cost-effective IPM strategies: website – CORDIS
  • IPMDecisions: Stepping-up IPM decision support for crop protection: CORDIS - website
  • OPTIMA: Optimised Pest Integrated Management to precisely detect and control plant diseases in perennial crops and open-field vegetables: CORDIS - website
  • INNOSETA Thematic network: Accelerating Innovative practices for Spraying Equipment, Training and Advising in European agriculture through the mobilization of Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems: CORDIS - website
  • WINETWORK Thematic network for the exchange and transfer of innovative knowledge between European wine-growing regions to increase the productivity and sustainability of the sector: CORDIS - website 
  • SMARTPROTECT Thematic network: SMART agriculture for innovative vegetable crop PROTECTion: harnessing advanced methodologies and technologies: CORDIS - website
  • VIRTIGATION - Emerging viral diseases in tomatoes and cucurbits: implementation of mitigation strategies for durable disease management: website – CORDIS
  • IPM Popillia - Integrated Pest Management of the invasive Japanese Beetle, Popillia japonica: website – CORDIS
  • PESTNU -  Field -testing and demonstration of digital and space based technologies with agro-ecological and organic practices in systemic innovation: website - CORDIS - video
  • NOVATERRA - Integrated novel strategies for reducing the use and impact of pesticides, towards sustainable Mediterranean vineyards and olive grove: website - CORDIS 
  • WELASER - sustainable weed management in agriculture with laser-based autonomous tools: website – CORDIS
  • BIOSCHAMP - Biostimulant alternative casing for a sustainable and profitable mushroom industry: website – CORDIS
  • novIGRain -  Sustainable storage of grains by implementing a novel protectant and a versatile application technology:  website – CORDIS
  • Excalibur -  Exploiting the multifunctional potential of belowground biodiversity in horticultural farming:  website – CORDIS

There are many other related Horizon multi-actor projects and thematic networks, click here and scroll down to "Plant health - Pest management"

EU Commission information on the adoption of the Sustainable use of Pesticides Regulation

Other

Publication date: 
Thursday, 8 September, 2022 - 12:15