Demonstration Farms Integrated Plant Protection Integrated Plant Protection

To this end the Federal Ministry of Agriculture financed the pilot project "Integrated plant protection demonstration farms". Between 2011 and 2018 a network of demonstration farms was established representing key production sectors and regions across Germany.

The project contributes to the implementation of the directive 2009/128/EC regarding a framework for Community action to achieve the sustainable use of pesticides. The directive demands that  EU-Member States  establish necessary conditions to ensure the use of integrated plant protection.

Demonstration farms specializing in arable farming, vegetable growing, apple cultivation, hop growing and viticulture across various regions of Germany implemented integrated pest management (IPM) to the highest standards and tested the practicality of new approaches and methods in this field. They shared their experiences with other farms and the general public.

This was made possible by the provision of specialized support and advice to these farms, which went beyond the usual level of assistance. The demonstration farms received intensive support on matters relating to IPM from experts within the plant protection services of the federal states (Länder) and the Julius Kühn Institute (JKI). They were provided with information tailored to their needs and comprehensive support in introducing new methods.

Various formats, such as field days with on-site demonstrations, were used to engage with other farms in the region and encourage them to adopt the new methods.

Project schedule

The project began in 2011, initially involving 27 farms specializing in viticulture, apple cultivation and arable farming. In 2014, the second phase began, involving further farms and additional production sectors (field vegetable and hops). A total of 67 farms from ten federal states took part in the project. The farms could participate in the project for a period of five years to try out new methods whilst taking into account the usual annual fluctuations in agricultural production, and to monitor the impact of the measures undertaken. Following the completion of the practical project phases in 2018, the JKI carried out a scientific evaluation of the extensive data. The JKI presented the results of this evaluation in a final report in 2020.

The final report, along with further publications and information on the demonstration project, is available on the project website at demo-ips.julius-kuehn.de.

Coordination of the project

The JKI coordinated the overall network and the specific production sectors. In addition, it supported the activities of the plant protection services of the Länder at which the farm consultants are located. As a research institution, the JKI conducted a scientific cross-farm evaluation and was responsible for knowledge transfer and public relations. The project was managed by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.

The plant protection services of the Länder documented the “IPM status quo” of each demonstration farm and created farm-specific work schedules which were adjusted annually, if needed. In collaboration with the demonstration farms, they initiated measures for knowledge transfer, such as farm visits and field days.

The Central Institution for Decision Support Systems in Crop Protection (ZEPP) provided technical advice on monitoring systems (DSS) and modelling of plant pathogen/pest systems (prognosis) and supported the plant protection services of the Länder regarding the farm-specific application of those models.