Pesticide Policies and Farm Behavior: The Introduction of Regulations for Integrated Pest Management

Valborg Kvakkestad, Åsmund Lægreid Steiro and Arild Vatn
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Valborg Kvakkestad: Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO), 1431 Ås, Norway
Åsmund Lægreid Steiro: Department of Plant Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, Norway
Arild Vatn: Department of International Environment and Development Studies, Faculty of Landscape and Society, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 1433 Ås, Norway

Agriculture, 2021, vol. 11, issue 9, 1-17

Abstract: Integrated pest management (IPM) was introduced in the 1960s as a response to increasing pesticide use and has since evolved from being understood mainly as an economic issue to also including environmental and human health considerations. The EU has made IPM mandatory for all farmers through the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Directive (SUD). Using a mixed-methods approach, this paper examines how Norwegian cereal farmers have responded to this requirement. The qualitative results show that most farmers have an understanding of IPM that goes beyond economic considerations only. The quantitative results display that farmers’ intrinsic motivation for IPM changed after introduction of the SUD. There is increased emphasis on using methods other than spraying, producing grain without traces of pesticides, and preventing pesticide resistance. Farmers’ self-reported knowledge of IPM increased, and 41% of farmers stated that they use IPM to a greater extent than before the SUD was introduced. These results demonstrate that mandatory IPM requirements have been a successful strategy for increasing farmers use of IPM in Norway. Clearer IPM provisions and increased intrinsic motivation for IPM among farmers will, however, be important to reduce the risks from pesticides further.

Keywords: integrated pest management policies; regulation; farmer behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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