European boost for coordinated research on integrated pest management

A new Collaborative Working Group on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been established under the Standing Committee on Agricultural Research (SCAR) umbrella. ENDURE welcomes the strategic objectives of this European research agenda setting group.

SCAR was created in 1974 to provide advice on agricultural research to the European Commission and to Member States. The Collaborative Working Group on Integrated Pest Management for the reduction of pesticide risks and use, launched in May 2011, will provide recommendations to SCAR and to the Directorate-General for Research and Innovation.

The French Ministries of Agriculture and Research proposed the creation of this Collaborative Working Group (CWG) because they consider that many aspects of plant protection are best addressed at the European level. As all Member States are involved in developing their National Action Plan (NAP), much can be gained by benchmarking, learning from each other and by looking at the type of research supporting NAPs across Europe.

CWGs are helpful in contributing to the coordination of research. CWGs often become ERA-nets, structures that coordinate national calls for research and development proposals, creating synergies for better and more efficient research.

Representatives from 17 EU Member States and Associated Countries joined this CWG, which is coordinated by France. These countries share the goal of developing plant protection management strategies through information sharing and possibly through joint research and development initiatives.