Integrated Pest Management Adoption in the Netherlands: Experiences with Pilot Farm Networks and Stakeholder Participation

Abstract

Integrated Pest Management in the Netherlands was developed in the 1980s and 1990s of the last century as a part of the wider concept of Integrated Farming. The potential proved to be very high in comparative farming systems studies proving that agrochemical inputs could be strongly reduced, notably pesticides. The Dutch government subsequently strongly advocated and supported the further development and implementation of “Integrated Farming” and “Integrated Pest Management” in practice. In the 1990s and 2000s, pilot farm networks were the cornerstone in the government strategy. The adoption of methods and techniques in practice however, progressed only slowly and unevenly. The support of the stakeholders in the agricultural community appeared to be essential to create sufficient momentum and ambition among farmers and contractors. The government’s covenant on sustainable crop protection united in 2003 the stakeholders in a roundtable approach. At the same time, the national network project, Farming with Future,adopted a stakeholder management approach to mobilize the support and contribution of stakeholders in the development and subsequent introduction of Integrated Pest Management in practice. The results are promising.