Using plant diversity in agricultural fields and landscapes to promote the natural regulation of pests and protect crops

The summary (pdf file) is available here  

In addition to the Collective Scientific assessment on the ecotoxicological impacts of pesticides, which conclusions were presented in May, the Ecophyto2+ plan financed the implementation of a second assessment on crop protection strategies based on plant diversification in agricultural areas.

INRAE has thus carried out a synthesis of the available scientific knowledge to assess to what extent the diversity of vegetation present in plots and agricultural landscapes can contribute to the natural regulation of pests and thus constitute an alternative management lever to the currently major methods based on the use of synthetic pesticides.

At the plot level, the assessment analysed the effects of the choice and method of implantation of species and varieties by the farmer (varietal or species mixtures, grass strips, service plants, etc.) as well as the temporal dynamics of these plant covers (rotations). At the landscape level, the effects of the composition and configuration of the total vegetation were considered, whether it was the cultivated portion (rotation, size and shape of plots) or semi-natural (nature and connectivity of agroecological infrastructures located around the plots – such as hedges or edges – or forming islands in the landscape – wood,  permanent grassland, etc.).

By crossing disciplinary perspectives from the biological sciences and the economic and social sciences, this assessment offers an analysis of the obstacles and levers to the development of these crop protection strategies in order to help define the conditions supporting their adoption. Finally, the assessment sheds light on the role of plant diversity in the provision of other ecosystem services in synergy with the natural regulation of pests.

The conference will offer an opportunity to present and debate the results of the assessment, which mobilized about thirty scientific experts for two and a half years.