SMARTCROP delivers interesting results on IPM tools
Photo: Siri Elise Dybdal.
Innovative approaches and technologies for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to increase sustainable food production was the topic of the 3rd annual SMARTCROP meeting.
The meeting, which took place in Ås, gathered both Norwegian and international work package and task leaders, collaborators and other stakeholders for presentations and discussion on the progress so far.
Arne Hermansen, Director of the Division of Biotechnology and Plant Health at NIBIO, opened the meeting with a welcome speech, followed by an introduction from SMARTCROP project leader Ingeborg Klingen.
Presentations included experiences with various IPM strategies and tools from NIBIO and Norwegian partners, as well as collaborators in Brazil, Germany and Hungary, and ranged from results connected to improved IPM by precision weed harrowing, the use of beneficials, oudors (semiochemicals) to web-based tools.
Another aspect of the SMARTCROP looks at the attitudes of farmers, consumer, wholesalers and retailers in relation to IPM. Results show that that IPM is increasingly known and used amongst Norwegian farmers after EU´s Directive on sustainable use of pesticides (2009128EC) was implemented, but there is still room for improvement. Further it showed that there is a lack of approved IPM tool such as biological control agents and semiochemicals on the Norwegian marked compared to e.g. Sweden and Denmark. This is an important aspect, which Norwegian policymakers needs to look into.
Most of the SMARTCROP project work packages will end in 2018 and some in 2019. The last annual meeting will be held in Ås in late August/ early September 2019.
SMARTCROP
• SMARTCROP is an extensive research project where the aim is to find innovative approaches and technologies for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to increase sustainable food production.
• Norway has implemented EU´s Directive on sustainable use of pesticides (2009/128/EC) which promotes the use of IPM and alternative approaches or techniques (IPM tools) to minimize pesticide use. There is a lack, however, of proven and practical IPM tools for farmers to use, as well as a relevant policy for a successful implementation of IPM. In SMARTCROP the aim is to meet these challenges.
• The project involves a reference group and several national and other international partners from farmers, agricultural extension service and IPM tool companies to regulatory authorities, wholesalers and retailers.
