IPMWORKS has released a new policy brief addressing key challenges and opportunities for scaling up holistic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) adoption across European agriculture. Despite being recognized as an effective approach to reduce pesticide use and mitigate environmental and health risks, IPM adoption remains limited. This brief presents targeted recommendations to accelerate the transition to more sustainable farming practices.
Key Challenges Identified:
🔹 Farmers often adopt IPM selectively rather than holistically.
🔹 Preventive measures at the cropping and landscape levels are underutilized.
🔹 IPM must be tailored to specific crops, regions, and farm conditions.
🔹 Complexity and lack of advisory support hinder implementation.
IPMWORKS Policy Recommendations:
✅ Enhance Research & Innovation – Increase support for R&D in non-chemical control methods, decision-support tools, and precision agriculture.
✅ Strengthen Knowledge Sharing – Ensure farmers have access to independent, practical guidance tailored to their region and crop system.
✅ Financial Support & Risk Mitigation – Reduce economic barriers through incentives like subsidies for IPM adoption, risk insurance for early adopters, and market-based incentives (e.g., traceability labels).
✅ Expand Demonstration Networks – Build on the success of IPMWORKS farmer hubs to facilitate peer-to-peer learning and showcase viable IPM strategies.
The full Policy Recommendations for Scaling IPM Adoption brief is now available for download.
📄 Read the full policy brief here.