All the news

• Agroscope underlines commitment to PPP reduction
  

  Agroscope, ENDURE’s Swiss partner, is stepping up its communication efforts in order to makes its research achievements in plant protection better known to agricultural practitioners. Agroscope is ‘giving its experts the floor’, beginning with an interview with Agroscope head Eva Reinhard, in which she explains what research is achieving and can still achieve.

• Report: Glyphosate use and alternatives
  

  INRA, France’s National Institute for Agricultural Research, has published the English version of an extensive report examining glyphosate use and alternatives in French agriculture. The report was drawn up in response to a request from the French government “for an analysis of glyphosate use, the identification of possible alternatives alongside their economic and organisational implications, and suggestions for supporting measures to facilitate the transition to glyphosate-free production systems”.

• Insects launches IPM special issue
  

  The journal Insects is launching a special issue addressing ‘Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Horticultural Crops’. The deadline for manuscript submissions is June 30, 2019.

• France unveils €30m research programme
  

  France has unveiled its €30 million ‘research priority programme’ to continue its drive towards reduced pesticide use. Called ‘Cultiver et Protéger Autrement’ (cultivating and protecting differently), the programme will focus on using agroecology, biocontrol and preventive measures to deliver high-performance, sustainable agriculture.

• Agroscope hosts potato symposium
  

  Agroscope, ENDURE’s Swiss partner, is hosting this September’s European Association for Potato Research’s pathology and pests section symposium, which will be focusing on ‘Reducing pesticide use while preserving potato productivity and profitability’

• Spotlight on glyphosate use
  

  ENDURE is to draw on its resources as a consortium of research and development organisations involved in the implementation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to shed light on the issue of glyphosate use in European agriculture. In particular, it will be seeking to identify the research strategies which could be most pertinent to the issue.

• 50 tools for crop diversification
  

  The DiverIMPACTS project has produced an inventory of 50 tools for crop diversification which are available for farmers and their advisers. It includes details such as the type of tool or method, expected impact, the level to which it applies, the recipients it is designed for, the training time required, cost and number of users.

• September date for agroecology forum
  

  The second Agroecology Europe Forum is being held on the Greek island of Crete from September 26 to 28, 2019. Agroecology Europe (AEEU) is an association of members which wants “to exchange knowledge and experiences on agroecology and to support the transition toward agroecological practices and policies”.

• Reducing pesticide use in French vineyards
  

  France enjoys a worldwide reputation for the quality of its wines, but the sector is a significant user of plant protection products, driven in large part by the threats posed by downy and powdery mildew. The sector has sought to innovate its crop protection practices over recent years and a new booklet highlights the progress made in the country’s DEPHY vineyard demonstration network, including the remarkable trajectories of selected winegrowers.

• Publication: Transforming French crop protection
  

  A new paper now available online reveals the extraordinary policy efforts made in France in order to reduce the use of chemical plant protection products and transform the country’s agriculture. Written by ENDURE communications team member Jay-Ram Lamichhane and ENDURE’s current and past coordinators, Antoine Messéan and Pierre Ricci respectively, the paper is published in Advances in Agronomy.