European Farmers Adopt Smarter Pest Management, Cutting Chemicals without Cutting Profits

Strategic Insights -

European farmers like Bruno Neves, who works in the small town of Tourinha north of Lisbon, are adopting integrated pest management (IPM) methods that protect crops and reduce chemical use without compromising profits. These methods combine techniques like crop rotation and biological controls to keep pests in check. Neves, who has been applying IPM since 2011, has seen significant results, spraying only three or four times last year compared to some farms that spray as often as twice a week.

Key Takeaways:

  • The EU-funded IPMWORKS initiative aimed to promote integrated pest management among European farmers, running from 2020 to April 2025.
  • IPM combines techniques like crop rotation, pest-resistant varieties, and biological controls to minimize the use of chemical pesticides.
  • The initiative created farmer hubs, peer-to-peer networks led by specialized coaches who provided valuable support and shared ideas and practical solutions.
  • IPM has been shown to be cost-effective and offer better pest control, reducing reliance on costly pesticides and increasing profits for farmers.
  • The research team developed training modules and an online IPM Resource Toolbox to help farmers adopt sustainable methods.
  • Scaling up IPM could lead to a 50% reduction in pesticide use without compromising food security, according to EU data and research team estimates.

Statistics:

  • The IPMWORKS initiative ran from 2020 to April 2025, during which time farmers like Neves adopted integrated pest management methods.
  • IPM has been mandatory in the EU since 2014, but adoption has been slow, with most farmers still relying heavily on pesticides.
  • Neves has seen a significant reduction in pesticide use, spraying only three or four times last year compared to some farms that spray as often as twice a week.
  • The initiative created 30 farmer hubs across Europe, led by specialized coaches from organizations like Inagro and the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment.
  • The online IPM Resource Toolbox provides training modules and resources for farmers to adopt sustainable methods.

Sources:

  • Neves, B. (Interview with Michaela Nesvarova). (No date)
  • Munier-Jolain, N. (Interview with Michaela Nesvarova). (No date)
  • IPMWORKS initiative. (No date)
  • Jolien Claerbout. (Interview with Michaela Nesvarova). (No date)
  • Inagro. (No date)
  • National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. (No date)
  • Horizon, the EU Research and Innovation Magazine. (Michaela Nesvarova). (No date)