Integrated crop management

Crop production is entering an era in which pesticide availability will be more restricted. A new project will give the industry an improved ability to provide compliant raw materials when crop protection choices are restricted, and access to a reliable source of advice on emerging issues on crop production.

Evaluating the prospects

The member–subscription funded project is identifying opportunities for more widespread and effective adoption of integrated crop management (ICM) in field grown vegetables and fruit - looking at pest and disease monitoring and thresholds, conventional product stewardship and the use of biological products and approaches. Farmers and growers will need to adopt integrated approaches, utilising fewer pesticides, to maintain yield, safety and quality of crops. The accepted thresholds for raw material quality may need to be revised to accommodate the limitations of revised crop protection techniques, which may not prevent blemishes arising from pest and disease damage. This project is evaluating the prospects for successful integration of conventional crop protection methods with strategies using more environmentally benign products and techniques which comply with the changing legislation and meet environmental concerns.

Selected ICM strategies

Specifically, the project is looking at: the impact of legislation on pesticide availability, effective ICM strategies, barriers to wider adoption of ICM, and the influence of more extensive use of ICM on the quality of harvested commodities. Selected ICM techniques will be evaluated in field trials.

Contact: Richard Stanley
+44(0)1386 842004
richard.stanley@campdenbri.co.uk