Identifying the drivers and constraints to adoption of IPM among arable farmers in the UK and Ireland

Abstract

BACKGROUND Arable crops in temperate climatic regions such as the UK and Ireland are subject to a multitude of pests (weeds, diseases and vertebrate/invertebrate pests) that can negatively impact productivity if not properly managed. Integrated pest management (IPM) is widely promoted as a sustainable approach to pest management, yet there are few recent studies assessing adoption levels and factors influencing this in arable cropping systems in the UK and Ireland. This study used an extensive farmer survey to address both these issues. RESULTS Adoption levels of various IPM practices varied across the sample depending on a range of factors relating to both farm and farmer characteristics. Positive relationships were observed between IPM adoption and farmed area, and familiarity with IPM. Choice of pest control information sources was also found to be influential on farmer familiarity with IPM, with those who were proactive in seeking information from impartial sources being more engaged and reporting higher levels of adoption. CONCLUSION Policies that encourage farmers to greater levels of engagement with their pest management issues and more proactive information seeking, such as through advisory professionals, more experienced peers through crop walks, open days and discussion groups should be strongly encouraged.

Toxic temperatures: Bee behaviours exhibit divergent pesticide toxicity relationships with warming

“…Findings can better inform pesticide users on recommended application timing based on predicted thermal conditions alongside known pollinator susceptibility windows (e.g., when colonies are being founded, when nutritional landscapes are limiting). It is possible that insecticides could be used on a rotational basis, using knowledge of temperature response coefficients to limit harm to beneficial insect pollinators, and this targeted approach to pesticide use could be incorporated into integrated pest management (IPM) strategies currently being developed and promoted (Creissen et al, 2021). Furthermore, our findings on neonicotinoid toxicity are also especially pertinent given current climate predictions suggest increased weather extremes, and average temperatures to rise.…”

How contradictory EU policies led to the development of a pest: The story of oilseed rape and the cabbage stem flea beetle

“…However, there is a need for further research to produce the scientific advances necessary for the development and commercialization of tools and techniques needed to make IPM a reality. Also, to facilitate the successful adoption of IPM techniques, farmers need to be incentivized to adopt IPM (Creissen et al, 2021;Zhang et al, 2018).…”

Uniting RNAi Technology and Conservation Biocontrol to Promote Global Food Security and Agrobiodiversity

“…Our aim here is to promote new ways to approach integrated pest management (IPM) research, a complex field that aims to identify holistic strategies that combine biological, physical and cultural tactics for optimizing the control of all classes of pests (i.e., invertebrates, pathogens, weeds, vertebrates), to achieve sustainable production of crops in a way that minimizes health- and environmental hazards and potentially reduces costs, through a decision-based process ( Prokopy, 2003 ; Barzman et al, 2015 ; Wijnands et al, 2018 ; Creissen et al, 2021 ). IPM partially relies on conservation of biological control (biocontrol) agents relevant to pathogens and animal pests of a given crop and region.…”