Sustainability of European maize-based cropping systems : economic, environmental and social assessment of current and proposed innovative IPM-based systems
Résumé
There is strong social and political pressure to reduce pesticide use in European agriculture. Evaluating the sustainability of cropping systems is a complex task due to the conflicting objectives underlying its economic, social and environmental dimensions. Multi-criteria assessment of different Integrated Pest Management (IPM) scenarios and evaluation of the most sustainable options at regional, national and European level is essential. Within the EU Network of Excellence ENDURE, two expert-based surveys were conducted (i.e. interviews), where experts from four European regions (northern region, Denmark and The Netherlands; central-eastern, Tolna and Békés counties in Hungary; south-western, EbroValley in Spain; southern, Po Valley in Italy) determined which are the main current maize-based cropping systems (MBCSs)in their region and proposed innovative IPM-based systems. The DEXiPM® (DEXi Pest Management) model for arable cropping systems was used to evaluate and compare the economic and environmental sustainability ofthese systems. The social sustainability was evaluated by adapting indicators of this model to the specificities of maize systems. The assessments showed that all innovative rotated MBCSs proposed in the four regions can have a higher environmental sustainability than and maintain the same economic sustainability as current rotated systems. These cropping systems are thus acceptable for testing under "real" field conditions. Only the innovative continuous maize system proposed in the central-eastern region was both economically and environmentally more sustainable than the current system. All innovative systems had a positive impact on work safety but according to local expert opinion producers and consumers are not ready to implement them or to accept their higherpriced products, with the exception of consumers in the northern region. These results suggestthe need for European and regional policies to encourage the adoption of innovative rotated MBCSs that have positive agronomic and environmental impactthrough IPM implementation. The major constraints that inhibitthisadoptionwerepredominantlyrelatingto(1)thelackofaccess thatfarmershavetothepractical knowledge needed to effectively manage these systems and (2)the insufficient consumer awareness andacceptanceofproductimprovementsassociatedwithIPM.Toovercometheseconstraints supportive policyenvironments,well-functioningknowledgemanagement systems (includinggoodfarmer support networks) and effective marketing is required.