Source · Select Committees · Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Accepted
Paragraph: 136
Extend IPM advisory networks and incorporate new technologies into ELMS for farmers.
Recommendation
We support the work of the Voluntary Initiative in disseminating advice to farmers on implementing Integrated Pest Management strategies. However, there is scope to extend the scheme to incorporate a peer-to-peer advisory network to provide farmers with access to a range of advice for developing and implementing their own strategies. The Government should also support the development of new IPM technologies through research funding and other mechanisms. Once these technologies are demonstrated as effective, the Government should encourage farmers to implement them by incorporating their use as specific actions into the Environmental Land Management Schemes (ELMS).
Government Response Summary
Defra agrees with the importance of IPM and commits to setting out policies for increased uptake in the National Action Plan, working with the Voluntary Initiative, and funding research and development of new IPM technologies. The government is also incorporating paid IPM actions into the Sustainable Farming Incentives scheme (part of ELMS), with a project aiming to create a peer-to-peer network.
Paragraph Reference:
136
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Defra agrees that Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plays an important role in minimising the potential environmental impact of pesticides. Within the forthcoming National Action Plan for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides (NAP) we will set out our policies to increase the uptake of IPM by farmers and growers. We will work with stakeholders, including the Voluntary Initiative to implement them. We have recently commissioned a package of research projects that will bring together scientific evidence underpinning IPM and look at ways of further encouraging its uptake. This work will support farmers’ access to the most effective IPM tools available and ensure that we understand changing trends in pest threats across the UK. One example includes the IPM NET project IPM NET | ADAS which started last year and aims to create a network of farmers utilising IPM and collecting both agronomic and economic data from their farms to share with the community. It also encourages knowledge exchange between farmers and benchmarking of their data compared to their peers. Defra has committed £103 million so far through the £270 million Farming Innovation Programme for industry-led research and development in agriculture. This programme aims to drive innovation that will transform the productivity, profitability and environmental sustainability of farming in England. Farmers can now sign up for four paid Integrated Pest Management (IPM) actions within the Sustainable Farming Incentives (SFI) scheme. Three paid actions on precision application of herbicides will also be available later in 2024.