Integrated Pest Management adoption by grain farmers in Norway: A novel index method

Åsmund Lægreid Steiro,Valborg Kvakkestad,Tor Arvid Breland,Arild Vatn

doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105201

Åsmund Lægreid Steiro, Valborg Kvakkestad + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cropro.2020.105201

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Abstract

Within the last decade, implementing eight key principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has become mandatory for all professional users of pesticides in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). Meanwhile, evidence of the level of implementation is lacking. In this study, the adoption of IPM principles among Norwegian grain farmers was measured using a novel IPM index based on self-reported levels of performing IPM practices. Three IPM experts weighted the principles and practices included in the index. They found prevention and suppression to be the most important principle, followed by monitoring and decision-making, while pesticide selection and evaluation were deemed least important. A survey of 1250 farmers showed that the principles with the highest adoption rates were evaluation and anti-resistance strategies, while non-chemical methods and reduced pesticide use had the lowest adoption rates. The results support previous suggestions that more complex principles, requiring a larger set of practices, are less readily adopted than those that are less complex. Nevertheless, the index scores showed that most Norwegian grain farmers are extensively practicing IPM; 75% of the respondents obtained scores between 60 and 80 on a 100-point scale, with an average score of 68. In the Norwegian context, it is more relevant to discuss the varying use of IPM rather than how to increase adoption in general.

Highlights

Pest management is essential in any crop production system to pre vent unacceptable reductions in crop quality and quantity caused by pest organisms
This study shows that the principles deemed least important for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) implementation in Norwegian grain farming were those generally practiced after the decision to intervene has been made, namely pesticide selection and evaluation
We have documented the construction and application of a novel IPM index measuring the general principles of IPM as put forward by the Sustainable Use Directive

Summary

Introduction

Pest management is essential in any crop production system to pre vent unacceptable reductions in crop quality and quantity caused by pest organisms. Introduction of large-scale use of chemical pesticides in the mid-1900s enabled farmers to efficiently control a wide variety of pests (Peshin and Pimentel, 2014). While use of chemical pesticides have been beneficial in many ways (Cooper and Dobson, 2007), it has led to detrimental consequences for the environment, future opportunities for farming and human health (Millstone and Lang, 2013). Increased pesticide use contributes to a plethora of issues such as reduced biodiversity (van der Sluijs et al, 2015), smaller pollinator in sect populations (Bijleveld van Lexmond et al, 2015) and poor farmer health (Lamichhane et al, 2016; Pimentel and Greiner, 1997). There fore, integrating pest control into a cropping system less dependent on pesticides is necessary to ensure sustainable food production (Barzman et al, 2015; Chandler et al, 2011)

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