Integrated pest management (IPM) research trials
Developing a sustainable approach to managing arable pests and weeds
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a form of pest and weed management that promotes using chemicals only when all other reasonable preventive measures have been taken. It combines long-term methods to reduce the risk from pests, with short-term responsive measures, such as insecticide application. With insecticide and herbicide resistance rising and regulation forcing products off the market, IPM is critical to the future of sustainable pest and weed management. By using cultural, biological and physical methods and techniques, the aim of IPM is to reduce farming’s overall reliance on chemicals.
At ADAS, we have entomologists and weed scientists who have experience in developing effective, feasible and economical IPM for a range of pests and weeds.
For previous projects, our entomologists have investigated effective controls for pollen beetle, cabbage stem flea beetle, aphids, orange wheat blossom midge and nematodes.
Members of
- Prevention and suppression
- Monitoring
- Decisions made based on monitoring and thresholds
- Non-chemical methods
- Pesticide selection
- Reduced pesticide use
- Anti-resistance strategies
- Evaluation
How ADAS can support an IPM approach
At ADAS, we carry out field (plot or tramline), climate-controlled greenhouse, polytunnel or controlled environment cabinet trials to investigate effective IPM methods. Our field trials can be naturally infested or artificially infested using insects from our cultures.
As part of our research trial service, we can
- assist with trial design
- find suitable sites to maximise the potential to generate useful data
- apply treatments
- collect, collate, analyse and interpret data
- prepare reports and present findings in talks, posters, articles and papers.
Understanding pest biology is key to optimising the control efficacy of a given treatment and IPM. Our entomology team has decades of experience in carrying out lab, greenhouse and field experiments to improve our understanding of pest characteristics.
Experiment examples
- Life-history studies (e.g., fecundity)
- Host-finding and migration behaviour
- Crop damage and means of improving crop tolerance
- Important natural enemies and means of improving natural enemy activity
To find out more about our research into pest biology and our research laboratory, visit pest evaluation services.
ADAS pest evaluation servicesResistance to insecticides is an increasingly important issue in pest control. We have experience in carrying out
- testing pest populations for resistance
- conducting baseline sensitivity studies
- modelling to improve resistance management and resistance risk assessment
- trials to test resistance management strategies.
We can offer standard or bespoke resistance testing of a range of pests, including aphids, beetles, mites and whitefly.
Crop protection is complex, involving a series of processes. For example, the need to monitor when pests are present, deciding if a treatment is needed and, if so, what and when to apply a treatment.
Decision support systems (DSS) play an increasingly important role in assisting growers and advisors with making these decisions. DSS include improved monitoring and pest identification methods, improved treatment thresholds and pest biology models that simulate the pest life cycle and advise on range of elements, such as timing of monitoring, treatment need and spray timing.
ADAS has experience in developing, collating and disseminating DSS. For example, revising treatment thresholds for pollen beetle that consider crop tolerance, or developing new spray decision tools for the management of barley yellow dwarf virus.
Our scientists have diverse experience in presenting results through scientific and industry conferences, workshops, webinars, scientific papers, reports and articles. We also offer specialist IPM training.
Helping you to reach your net zero goals
Robust integrated pest management programmes.
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