3.3.1 Sustainable Use Directive 2009/128/EC
IPM is also a requirement reflected in the European Directive on the Sustainable Use of Pesticides.
In 2009, the European Parliament established a framework for Community action to achieve: “National Action Plans aimed at setting quantitative objectives, targets, measures, timetables and indicators to reduce risks and impacts of pesticide use on human health and the environment, and at encouraging the development and introduction of integrated pest management and of alternative approaches or techniques in order to reduce dependency on the use of pesticides, should be used by Member States in order to facilitate the implementation of this Directive.
Member States should monitor the use of plant protection products containing active substances of particular concern and establish timetables and targets for the reduction of their use, in particular when it is an appropriate means to achieve risk reduction targets.
National Action Plans should be coordinated with implementation plans under other relevant Community legislation and could be used for grouping together objectives to be achieved under other Community legislation related to pesticides”.
Under the Sustainable Use Directive, pesticide use in EU countries, from the beginning of 2014, should only take place within the general principles of IPM.
Member States are now obliged to implement true ‘integration’: establishing an optimal mix of pest management techniques including:
- Cultural methods, such as: attention to potential alternative pest host plants, removal and burning of diseased plant parts, pruning, removal of infected/infested pods and regular complete harvesting.
- Clonal selection and other genetic methods that confer resistance to pests; these are long-term measures (much of the research currently taking place is unlikely to be implemented at the farmer level for several years to come).
- The conservation and/or manipulation of biological agents (e.g. biopesticides and insect predators such as ants).
- Application of chemical pesticides, but only on the basis of rational and responsible use.
How best to implement IPM in cocoa growing countries? In a recent article [1], Dr. Rob Jacobson suggested a number of key messages for both policymakers and practitioners, including:
- Do not under-estimate the complexity of IPM
- Seek input from experienced practitioners
- Apply sensible time frames for implementation
- Training is vital
- Understand the crop and work on customers’ expectations for quality and cost of produce
- Provide adequate resources for R&D to develop alternative control measures
- Target specific pesticides which will still be required
- Include ‘safety nets’ in the form of second lines of defence against key pests
- Never relax – always be prepared for the next challenge.
