An EU-wide farm network demonstrating and promoting cost-effective IPM strategies (IPMWORKS)

The aim of IPMworks is to initiate a significant reduction of pesticide use in European agriculture, by promoting the adoption of IPM (Integrated Pest Management) strategies. IPM is based on a diversity of pest management measures (prevention, non-chemical control, best practices for optimizing pesticide efficiency, etc.). that can be applied on farm level to reduce pesticide use. Currently only a few pioneer
farmers throughout Europe are testing such IPM strategies and are succeeding in achieving good outcomes with low pesticide inputs. The ambition is to reach a wider group of farmers and growers.

We create a large, integrated EU-wide network of farmers and advisors based on both already existing and new networks and initiatives. They progress further in the adoption of IPM. Using proven demonstration techniques such as peer-to-peer learning, joint efforts, they demonstrate to other farmers that the holistic approach of IPM does in fact work. The project trains the advisors to facilitate the IPM-demonstration networks, stimulate the use of an IPM decision support toolbox and organize local demonstration activities. 

European agriculture still heavily relies on the use of pesticides to protect their crops against pests. The activities in the IPMWorks project will improve the awareness about feasible alternatives in a larger group of farmers in order to show them that valuable alternatives for pesticide use already exist.