All the news

• New focus on potato late blight
  

  A new project is seeking to understand why, despite much research and many breakthroughs, late blight in potato remains stubbornly difficult to control with efficient and environmentally friendly methods.

• C-IPM publishes strategic research agenda for IPM
  

  A strategic research agenda for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) in Europe has been prepared by Coordinated Integrated Pest Management (C-IPM), the European Research Area Network (ERA-Net) seeking to align national research programmes on IPM in Europe.

• SMaCH results to be aired
  

  The results of projects launched in 2013 by INRA’s Sustainable Management of Crop Health (SMaCH) metaprogramme will be presented (in French) at a two-day workshop this autumn, alongside four theses supported by the programme.

• IPM: A leap of faith or a confident step?
  

  Recent issues relating to proposed withdrawals of key pesticides for farmers in the European Union, including neonicotinoids (pollinator loss concerns) and glyphosate (for example, weed resistance, health and biodiversity loss concerns) have raised the profile of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) amongst stakeholders as a potential way forward for more sustainable crop protection, write Nick Birch, Graham Begg, Cathy Hawes and Geoff Squire from Scotland’s James Hutton Institute.

• Projects to combat hairy root disease and mites
  

  More news of projects launched under Coordinated Integrated Pest Management’s (C-IPM) first call is now available, providing details of plans to tackle hairy root disease in minor crops and mites in berries, soft fruits and woody ornamentals.

• Follow IPM news on social media
  

  Alongside the ENDURE Twitter feed (@ENDURE_ERG), it is now possible to follow developments on France’s Integrated Pest Management portal, EcophytoPIC, through social media thanks to the launch of a Twitter service and Facebook page.

• C-IPM projects to tackle wireworms and weeds
  

  More details of the projects selected for funding under the first C-IPM (Coordinated Integrated Pest Management) call are now available, revealing the ambition to tackle wireworm control and weeds in maize and winter wheat through Decision Support Systems (DSS).

• DEPHY: Real-life examples of change
  

  One of the cornerstones of France’s attempts to reduce pesticide use in agriculture is the DEPHY network which, alongside an experimental system, comprises 1,900 farms which are taking various approaches to ensure a more parsimonious use of pesticides. These farms now have several years of experience behind them and thanks to the production of ‘trajectory sheets’, which chart the motives for change, the steps taken, the successes and the setbacks, it is possible to get a fascinating insight into real-life examples of change.

• France’s EcophytoPIC continues to expand
  

  The development of France’s portal dedicated to Integrated Pest Management is an ongoing process, providing access to lots of interesting information to those with a knowledge of French or a good translation program. New pages added to the EcophytoPIC site include, for example, sections dedicated to conservation biological control (using functional biodiversity), the mass release of beneficial insects and an examination of the ongoing experimental work on entovectoring.

• News from BIOCOMES
  

  The latest newsletter from BIOCOMES is now available, providing readers with updates on some of the 11 new biological control products the project is developing for a number of important pests and diseases in agriculture, horticulture and forestry.