Work

Measure to manage – an integrated pest management metric for horticulture

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Integrated pest management (IPM) is the primary global crop protection paradigm. Based around a broad range of techniques, it is a framework for the management of pests (animal pests, weeds, diseases) with the reduction of pesticides as a core function. For policy, research and technological stakeholders to effectively assess and support IPM programmes, it is necessary to quantify adoption at the farm level. This study quantifies adoption in four temperate countries (Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and England) and explores potential influence from the wider systemic landscape. Quantification is through the application of a peer-reviewed horticultural IPM metric. RESULTS: The average IPM score for the four countries analysed was 58 of 100 (range 5-100). Growers from England averaged highest (64 of 100) and displayed strong levels of adoption of the core IPM practices, suggesting that there are elements within the IPM landscape in England contributing to the systemic supports required for higher adoption at the farm level. CONCLUSION: This exploratory study is the first to apply a universal metric for horticulture to a multinational dataset. The assessment of results on a regional basis allows for the comparison of IPM adoption from national to farm level, establishing a transferable framework for longitudinal benchmarking. We conclude that the overarching operational realm in which growers function has the potential to positively influence how IPM is adopted in the field and that the context most favourable to success is informed and cognizant about IPM motivations and limitations at the grower level. © 2026 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Source: Pest Management Science

DOI: 10.1002/ps.70761

Authors: Jennifer Byrne, Robert Lillywhite, Fiona Thorne, Lael Walsh, Henry Creissen

Institutions: Teagasc - The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority, University of Warwick, University of the Highlands and Islands

Language: English

Topic: Agricultural Innovations and Practices

Subfield: General Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Zero hunger

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,360