Mind The Gap

The 10th Pests and Beneficials Review was held held on the 5 December 2024 at the Sophi Taylor Building, NIAB, Cambridge.

Theme: Mind the Gap – Managing pests successfully with a decreasing choice of chemical options.

Programme

Click titles to view presentations
10.00: WelcomeChairperson Elizabeth Stockdale, Head of Farming Systems Research, NIAB
10.15: Development of a UK Pesticide Load IndicatorDr Marc Kennedy, Fera Science
10.40: EU and UK on pesticide availabilityDr Jonathan Blackman, Horticultural Technical Manager, Hutchinsons

11.40: Perspectives on managing pests with reduced synthetic chemical options
Paul Cobb, Farm Environment Adviser, FWAG South East
Georgie Bray, Hope Farm, Cambridgeshire, RSPB
John Cherry, Weston Park Farms, Hertfordshire
Marion Regan, Hugh Lowe Farms Ltd, Kent

12.35: Poster Session and Short Talks by early career researchers and PhD students:
Paul Allison, Newcastle University
Sam Apori, Newcastle University
Laura Martinez-Chavez – Harper Adams University
John Owen, Harper Adams University
Aimee Tonks, Harper Adams University
Nikoletta Foskolou, Harper Adams University

13.00: Lunch
14.00: Bring stakeholders togetherDr Una Fitzpatrick, Senior Ecologist, National Biodiversity Data Centre, Ireland.
14.25: Ecological innovations; new nature-based solutions for effective crop protectionDr Felix Wackers, Director Research & Development, Biobest Group.
14.50: Discussion
15.10: Review summary – Chair
15.20: Close

To view presentations from the 9th Pests & Beneficials Review, 2023, click here

The objective of the meeting was to discuss to what extent adoption of the Sustainable Farming Incentives scheme promotes the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The meeting also highlights where IPM tools contribute to profitable farm businesses that benefit from SFIs.