Less pesticide in fruits and vegetables. 
That is the objective of a new EU initiative that aims to reduce the risk and effect of pesticides on human health and the environment by using a more efficient spray technique.

The horticultural advisory unit at the Knowledge Centre for Agriculture is involved in an integrated crop protection project known as IPM.

-Even although we have a very low content of pesticide trace in our fruit and vegetables compared to many other countries there is still room for improvement, says Thomas Skovgaard Lund, leader of the horticultural advisory unit.

Consumers however will not be the only beneficiaries. Producers can save resources by developing more effective spraying techniques.

-If the number of treatments can be reduced that will also be good for the farmer as not only the costs of sprays but also the costs of application can be saved. Furthermore several pests are now resistant to chemical based pesticides and by developing alternative techniques the producers will also be able to reduce the risks of these pests, explains Thomas Skovgaard Lund. 

To find a more effective spraying technique the advisers from the horticultural advisory unit are considering actual existing issues on 26 enterprises that have been proposed by producers.

Among these 26 producers are both fruit, vegetable and pot-plant producers with completely different issues.

To target the reduction in traces of pesticide the horticultural advisory units in cooperation with the Danish Environmental Protection Agency (DEPA) and producers have obtained access to the results of DEPA’s pesticide trace control. By this means the advisers can compare advising with pesticide trace concentrations on the outputs from fruit and vegetable producers and by that means find more efficient techniques. 

-For example with pot-plant production a new technique could be the introduction of biological control methodology. This methodology is also being used with strawberry production.  The name of the game is to find alternative techniques, says Thomas Skovgaard Lund.

Facts about IPM

All farmers and horticulturalists in the EU shall by the latest 1 January 2014 produce according to IPM regulations. The objective is to reduce the risk and effects of pesticides on human health and the environment.

 EU has formulated 8 principles for IPM in the common EU laws for crop protection measures. IPM is called Integrated Crop Protection in Danish. Integrated Crop Protection is part of Green Growth (”Grøn Vækst”) initiative, as member countries shall introduce IPM in 2014 at the latest.