EU ADVISORY NETworks to reduce the use and risks of PESTicides.

Project Information

AdvisoryNetPEST

Grant agreement ID: 101134122

DOI

10.3030/101134122

EC signature date 17 November 2023

Start date 1 January 2024

End date 31 December 2028

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 3 786 986,15

Coordinated by

CONSULAI, CONSULTORIA AGRO INDUSTRIATRIAL LDA
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - AdvisoryNetPEST (EU ADVISORY NETworks to reduce the use and risks of PESTicides.)

Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The AdvisoryNetPEST project aims to network and upgrade advisory services across the EU to increase the sharing of knowledge and the adoption of innovative solutions to reduce the use and risks of pesticides (RURP) in all EU MSs, enabling the agricultural sector to achieve the targets proposed by the Farm to Fork Strategy. AdvisoryNetPEST is funded by the Horizon Europe programme, coordinated by CONSULAI, and will last five years, starting on 1 January 2024.

The overall project's objective will be achieved by:
- Developing a EU network of advisors to reduce the use and risks of pesticides (RURP), built on existing advisory networks and the national AKIS in all MSs,
- Identifying, selecting, and shaping novel approaches (NAs) to be adapted and replicated across the EU,
- Exchanging knowledge and training advisors to promote the adoption of the NAs by farmers,
- Scaling up the NAs, fostering the adoption of innovative solutions by farmers.

The project will set up an EU-wide network of advisors specialised in RURP, covering the 27 EU MSs and one associated country (UK), all European pedo-climatic areas, and all relevant Crop Sectors (Arable, Vineyards, Orchards, and Horticulture, soft fruits and ornamental). The network will embrace a multi-actor approach by gathering 19 partners representing the diversity of AKIS stakeholders working at farm, regional, national, and EU levels, aiming to identify, select, and shape NAs that can be adapted and replicated across the EU.

The project will also adopt a twinning approach to cover all MSs: each National Network (NN) (14) will engage with an Associated Network (AN) (14) through a close twining program along the project. The operational commitment of the ANs will be realised through targeted activities of the project: i) networking and sustainability of the network, ii) identification and selection of NAs, iii) knowledge exchange and evaluation of NAs in cross visits, iv) training and education, v) connection with national AKIS and policy makers, vi) D&E of NAs through different channels (including farm demos).

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

By month 18, the project has achieved significant progress across its KPIs, with some indicators already exceeding expectations while others remain in progress. Regarding the establishment of networks, all 14 National Networks (NNs) have been successfully established (100%), and 11 Associated Networks (ANs) have been set up, slightly below the expected 14 (79%), nevertheless project partners are working to close this gap and reach the 27 MS + UK.

On the technical side, the identification and selection of Novel Approaches (NAs) has progressed strongly. A total of 133 NAs were identified, exceeding the target of 93 (143%), and 31 NAs were selected, fully meeting the objective (100%).

Regarding CVs, the project is slightly behind schedule with 5 completed against a target of 13 (38%). However, the remaining 8 CVs are scheduled for completion by the end of the project’s second year, meaning that the current deviations are expected to be resolved by December 2025.

WP7 has finished as expected, reaching it's expected outcomes (delivering D7.1. Mapping and selection of related projects and initiatives and D7.2. Analysis of the policy and institutional framework) that will now feed into the tasks of WP8.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

In PR1, the project focused on establishing guidelines to ensure its smooth functioning. In RP2, these guidelines will be implemented, and more substantial project activities will take place, allowing us to gather a greater number of results.