Decision support systems (DSSs) enable the optimisation of pesticide application timing to increase pesticide efficacy and thus reduce pesticide use without compromising yield quality and quantity. Limited access to information about available DSSs for use in integrated pest management (IPM) is a major barrier to the uptake of DSSs for IPM across Europe. To overcome this barrier, a typology for DSSs for IPM in Europe was developed, introducing a systematic approach to describe the ever-growing number of DSSs for IPM. The developed IPM-DSS typology was implemented in the free web tool “IPM Adviser”, where currently 79 IPM DSSs are described with over 50 attributes describing their structural and performance characteristics. The information about IPM DSSs, which was previously scattered on different websites and difficult to compare, is now standardised and presented in a uniform way, so that it is possible to compare different IPM DSSs on the basis of all the attributes described. The presented IPM-DSS typology implemented in the web tool IPM Adviser facilitates the dissemination and uptake of DSSs for IPM and thus contributes to the achievement of the EU targets for the sustainable use of pesticides.

Overall, there is a major wish that European farmers implement integrated pest management (IPM), particularly to reduce dependence on pesticides. In the European Rustwatch project, partners conducted nineteen trials across nine different countries during 2020 and 2021 to investigate different IPM strategies, focusing on controlling rust diseases in winter wheat. The trials included the use of varieties with contrasting levels of resistance, variety mixtures, reduced fungicide rates, thresholds, and Decision Support Systems (DSSs), and testing alternative products to fungicides. Sixteen trials developed yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici) infections, and six trials developed brown rust (Puccinia triticina) infections. Resistant varieties proved highly effective in keeping down yellow rust infection, and variety mixtures also effectively reduced infection levels and stabilized yields. Rust was fully controlled using 25% of standard fungicide rates, even under high disease pressure. Using DSSs provided sufficient control of rust diseases and resulted in competitive net economic returns due to fewer fungicide applications. The alternative products tested included two biological control agents and four alternative chemistries, which all gave inferior and insufficient control against rust compared with chemical fungicides. The trial work demonstrated that there are good and reliable options for including IPM into disease control in wheat.

Barley crops are at risk of being attacked by several leaf diseases. Net blotch, brown rust, Rhynchosporium and Ramularia leaf spot are among the most widespread and can cause severe attack and yield losses. Two trial protocols targeting Ramularia and net blotch, respectively, have been tested in several countries in 2021 and 2022. Ramularia trials were situated in Germany, Ireland, Scotland, and Denmark. The net blotch trials were placed in Denmark, Belgium, the UK, Germany, Finland, and France. In the two protocols, 12–13 different fungicide solutions including co-formulations of DMIs, SDHIs, QoIs, and multi-site inhibitors have been tested to compare efficacy and yield responses. Against Ramularia leaf spot, the fungicides were applied at GS 47–51 and against net blotch at GS 37–45. In six trials, the efficacy against Ramularia leaf spot was scored. The results showed a superior control from the co-formulation fluxapyroxad + metyltetraprole (78–100% control), but also solo mefentrifluconazole and the mixtures fluxapyroxad + mefentrifluconazole performed well (average 74–76% control). The mixture fluxapyroxad + metyltetraprole provided the best yield increase followed by Ascra Xpro. Folpet as a solo solution was inferior. Following the net blotch protocol, only three trials developed enough disease to rank the different fungicides; however, in five trials ranking against brown rust was also possible. Most treatments gave very good control of net blotch, and brown rust (> 80% control). The mixture fluxapyroxad + metyltetraprole delivered the best control against all diseases overall. Average yield responses from eight trials showed very similar increases from the tested fungicides.