Development of an online pan-European Integrated Pest Management Resource Toolbox

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Information Science

Background:

• Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is crucial for sustainable agriculture.
• Farmers and advisors require accessible, practical resources for effective IPM implementation.
• Existing IPM information is often fragmented and difficult to access.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an interactive, online repository of integrated pest management (IPM) resources.
• To create a user-friendly platform for accessing, understanding, and implementing IPM strategies.
• To ensure the toolbox is easily expandable and maintainable for future resource integration.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a survey of IPM stakeholders across Europe to identify key user needs and requirements.
• Collected 343 responses to a 10-question survey in four languages.
• Utilized an open-source content management system for website development and population.

Main Results:

• Developed the IPM Resource Toolbox, an interactive online repository of IPM resources.
• The toolbox includes practical information on pest and disease management and economic thresholds.
• Resources are multilingual, image-rich, topic-based, and accessible via smartphone.

Conclusions:

• The IPM Resource Toolbox provides a centralized, accessible platform for crucial IPM information.
• User needs assessment was foundational to the toolbox's design and functionality.
• The open-source platform allows for future expansion and integration of new IPM resources.