ENDURE’s Network of Experts brings together scientific expertise from a wide range of disciplines and is already making important contributions to the process of implementing IPM across the continent.

ENDURE’s Network of Experts can respond to requests from clients at both the EU and national level seeking technical, advisory or institutional support on questions relating to IPM implementation. Of major significance is the fact it offers ‘live’ expertise, available at relatively short notice and neatly complementing the body of information available in the ENDURE Information Centre.

Its track record includes membership of the European Commission’s Expert Group on the Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides, chaired by the Directorate General for ‘Health and Consumers’ (DG ‘Sanco’), contributions to the DG Environment’s ‘Implementation of IPM principles – Guidance to Member States’, and work for national organisations in both France and Italy.

It allows ENDURE to offer in-depth assessments, technical recommendations and advisory support through an extensive network of more than 450 scientific experts from across Europe, complemented by access to pools of ad-hoc expertise which can be called upon to assist in specific tasks.

Scope of the Network of Experts

The Network of Experts can satisfy requests specifically relating to IPM implementation, with two general types of requests eligible:

• Scientific support to policy-making relevant to IPM.
• Scientific and technical support for the practical implementation of IPM principles.

ENDURE’s thematic scope is at the intersections between the following domains and the issue of IPM implementation:

• Biophysical disciplines: weed, insect and disease management, ecology and landscape ecology, biodiversity, agricultural engineering, and agronomy.
• Policy: national public policies and evaluation.
• Knowledge chain: research policy and agenda, advisory systems, learning approaches.
• Types of crop: arable, perennial, vegetable and minor crops in Europe.
• Pest Management approaches: decision-support and monitoring.

Potential clients and requests

• EU-level clients (DGs), particularly regarding the needs of the EC in their follow-up of the implementation of the parts of the Framework Directive that relate to IPM.
• National authorities overseeing the implementation of the Framework Directive.
• National level advisory services.
• European level NGOs, including industry and special interest groups.

Achievements to date

• Since June 2009, the Network of Experts is a member of, and contributes expertise to, the Expert Group on the Thematic Strategy on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. Chaired by DG Sanco, this group facilitates the exchange of information and best practice in the field of sustainable use of pesticides and Integrated Pest Management, it monitors the implementation of the measures proposed in the Thematic Strategy and provides guidance where required.
• In August 2009, the Network of Experts delivered upon request from DG Environment a contribution to the EC’s document ‘Implementation of IPM principles - Guidance to Member States’. You can read the report here: Report on the BiPRO Study submitted by the ENDURE network of experts for DG Environment
• In February 2010, it accepted a request from the Italian National Committee on Integrated Crop Protection to conduct a comparative analysis between the parts of the draft Italian National Action Plan that specifically address IPM and other action plans.
• Since February 2010, the Network of Experts has been a member of the French national Ecophyto Committee of experts, a stakeholder group providing recommendations on the implementation of the French National Action Plan.
• In June 2010, it delivered upon request from the Ecophyto Committee of experts two comparative studies: one on goal-setting, stakeholder involvement and role of the knowledge chain in pesticide action plans in five EU countries, and another on explaining differences in Treatment Frequency Indices in terms of wheat disease management options in five European countries.

How to contact ENDURE’s Network of Experts

You can contact the ENDURE Network of Experts by sending an email to endure@grignon.inra.fr

Useful sources of information on this site:

	National policy documents A range of documents useful for those involved in the policy making process has now been added to the ENDURE website. The selection currently includes documents relating to National Action Plans and pesticide reduction plans, plus review papers. Go to documents.
	ENDURE Policy Briefs ENDURE is determined to play a positive role in aiding European Member States which must ‘establish or support the establishment of necessary conditions for the implementation’ of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). ENDURE Policy Briefs are a range of briefing documents designed to provide policy advisers with insights into the conditions necessary for the successful implementation of IPM. Go to ENDURE Policy Briefs.
	European Commission documents The European Commission officially adopted and published the Regulation concerning the placing of plant protection products on the market and the Directive establishing a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides in November 2009. You can download them here. Go to documents.