SLU: Crop protection futures in agriculture

European and global food production face major challenges which call for impact assessments and coordination of knowledge, innovation and transformation. Crop production is the vital basis for our food system, but our current cropping system is highly dependent on inputs of chemical pesticides and mineral fertilisers. The inputs have a negative impact on human health and the environment and the systems are vulnerable to long and broken supply chains, climate change and pest outbreaks. Cropping needs to become more robust, resource-efficient and environmentally friendly.

To make cropping sustainable, it is paramount to maintain plant health and minimize crop losses due to pests, diseases and weeds – problems that are expected to increase with climate change in present cropping systems. Fewer and fewer chemical pesticides are available to the farmers as they are phased out and few new reaches the market. No new modes of action of pesticides have been discovered (none since 1994), and pests and weeds are ever more resistant to available pesticides.

Ambitious plans are put in place for decreased pesticide use and risks, such as the EU Farm to Fork strategy. These shifts pose challenges, but also open opportunities for productive, competitive and sustainable food production.

On 24 May 2023 the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) hosts an afternoon event with discussions on the future of crop protection in agriculture. The focus will be on recent achievements, future solutions and ways forward. The discussions will feed into current developments related to crop protection and pesticide use within the European Union. The event will be proceeded by a side event before lunch with speed talks and networkning. The day after, on 25 May, there is an opportunity to participate in an excursion to SLU’s research field site Lövsta and to Linnaeus’ Hammarby, the summer house of Carl von Linnaeus built in 1762.