Risk management by integrated pest management on the example of sugar beet

Plant protection is a key factor for yield stability. Active ingredients respective their metabolites are found in environmental compounds, even if they are applied according to good agricultural practice. To avoid risks that may occur for man and environment, the EU and member states developed legislation and voluntary actions to reduce the use of plant production products to the levels which are necessary. The implementation in agricultural practice shall be facilitated by voluntary guidelines for integrated pest management. These were developed für sugar beet in 2011. Growers associations and sugar industry established well-organised working structures for risk assessment and risk management. Reduced availability of active ingredients and plant protection products will lead to an increased importance of monitoring pests and diseases and the occurrence of resistances, whereas field trials on the efficacy of single plant protection products might be of less importance.