New EU project to develop sustainable crop protection strategies
Developing crop protection strategies which are both environmentally friendly and economically viable is the goal of the EU-funded ENDURE (European Network for the Durable Exploitation of Crop Protection Strategies) project, which started recently. The project brings together over 130 researchers from 18 European organisations into a Network of Excellence covering disciplines as diverse as agronomy, genetics, ecology, economics and sociology. The four-year project has received €11.2 million in funding under the 'Food Quality and Safety' thematic area of the Sixth Framework Programme. 'By pooling the skills and knowledge available in Europe, ENDURE aims to become a world leader in the development and implementation of sustainable control strategies,' said Project Coordinator Pierre Ricci of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research. 'The aim is to become the prime point of reference in Europe with respect to crop protection, not only for actors in industry but also for policy decision makers.' During the course of the project, the project partners will study the biology of pathogens; insect pests and weeds and the creation of crop varieties with sustainable resistance; the use of biological control; the spatial diversification of agricultural ecosystems; the management of invasive species and the integrated management of weeds. The partners will focus in particular on the development of innovative plant protection systems. As well as analysing their agronomic efficacy, environmental impacts and economic factors, the researchers will evaluate these systems on the basis of consumer perceptions, marketing strategies and regulatory policies. The project consortium plans to develop strong links with the scientific, industrial, farming and political worlds, as well as other interested stakeholders, with the aim of fostering a dialogue between these groups on the issues raised by the project and ensuring the solutions the project proposes can be implemented in practice.