The eighth PAN Europe annual network conference took place in Bologna, Italy, 7-9 September. It was organised in cooperation with SANA, the largest organic fair in Europe, and our Italian network member Legambiente and supporter AIAB- Italian Organic Farming Association. It was the first time the participants meet in Italy. Over 80 participants from 18 European and Caucasian countries took part in the conference (Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ukraine). The Network Annual General Meeting welcomed 3 new full members to the network. PAN Europe network now counts with 28 full and associate members.

PROGRAMME 7 SEPTEMBER

Annual Network Conference "Alternatives to chemical crop protection for the reduction of risks and pesticides dependency"

ARRIVAL AND REGISTRATION

PLENARY SESSION

Note from Sergio Rossi, Consigliere Delegato, SANA S. r. l.

Note from organisers: Carina Weber (Chair PAN Europe) [PDF 12KB]; Andrea Ferrante (AIAB President); Francesco Ferrante (Deputy director Legambeinte)

Keynote speech: Daniela Guerra, Member of the Emilia-Romagna Regional Council (Green Party)

SESSION 1: GLOBAL AND EUROPEAN VIEWS ON THE STATE OF INTEGRATED CROP AND PEST MANAGEMENT

Chair: Carina Weber, PAN Germany, Chair PAN Europe

• A global perspective on the state of Integrated Crop and Pest Management and pesticide use reduction, Harry Van der Wulp, Global IPM Facility, FAO- Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations [PDF 654KB]
• The state of Integrated Crop and Pest management in Europe: institutional framework and prospects for development, Bernd Freier, Head of the Institute for Integrated Plant Protection of the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (BBA) [PDF 8,50MB]

SESSION 2: ARE ALTERNATIVES ADEQUATELY ADDRESSED AT THE EU LEVEL?

Chair: Stephanie Williamson, PAN UK

• Roberto Musacchio, Member of the European Parliament, Confederal Group of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left
• Bernd Freier, Head of the Institute for Integrated Plant Protection of the Federal Biological Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (BBA), Germany [PDF 40KB]
• Murree Groom, Ecospray, United Kingdom [PDF 20KB]
• Hans Muilerman, Natuur en Milieu, PAN Europe Board, Netherlands [PDF 264KB]

SESSION 3: ALTERNATIVES TO CHEMICAL CROP PROTECTION FROM THE POINT OF VIEW OF PRODUCERS

Chair: Daniel Lesinsky, Centre for Environmental Public Advocacy, Slovakia

• Knowledge transfer and development of organic farming, Helga Willer, FiBL- Research Institure of Organic Farming, Switzerland [PDF 248KB]
• Example from farmers' association/cooperative from Emilia-Romagna on Integrated Crop and Pest Management or other alternatives to chemical crop protection, Gianni Ceredi, Apofruit, Italy [PDF 13,4MB]

SESSION 4: COORDINATION BETWEEN FARMERS, RETAILERS AND CONSUMERS

Chair: Luigi Guarrera, AIAB- Italian Organic Farming Association

• Legambiente protocols for reduction of pesticide residues in selected food products, Davide Sabaddin, Legambiente, Italy [PDF 356KB]
• From farmers to consumers: Italian/regional experience, Alessandro Triantafyllidis, AIAB, IFOAM EU Group [PDF 1,55MB]
• A regional example of promotion of organic farming, Matteo Sandon, Associazione Bio Rekk, Italy [PDF 3,54MB]

WRAP UP AND CLOSURE

Sofia Parente, Coordinator PAN Europe [PDF 24KB]

PROGRAMME 8 SEPTEMBER

NGO workshop "Promotion of pesticide use reduction strategies in particular Integrated Crop and Pest Management"

PRESENTATIONS OF MEMBERS' ACTIVITIES

• Valentina Lukova, National Movement (Bulgaria)
• Lew Gerbilsky, Green Doctors- ISDE Ukraine
• Ferenc Laczo, Centre for Environmental Studies (Hungary)
• Latest activities concerning pesticide reduction and introduction of sustainable agriculture practices, Tatyana Stefanovska, SDEEC- Sustainable Development and Ecological Education Centre (Ukraine) [PDF 36KB]
• Kathuna Akhalaia, Prior Trend of Georgia- Poverty Reduction (Georgia)
• Sustainable Agriculture in Armenia: organic farming in Armenian villages Fantan and Dzoraghbyur of Kotayk Marz, Elena Manvelyan, Armenian Women for Health and Healthy Environment (Armenia) [PDF 12,6MB]

PRESENTATIONS

• Current state and prospects for pesticide use reduction in the EU Common Agriculture Policy, Arjan Berkhuysen, Natuur en Milieu, Netherlands [PDF 952KB]
• The role and extent of non-governmental standards in the promotion of Integrated Crop and Pest Management, Stephanie Williamson, PAN UK [PDF 104KB]
• Promotion of Integrated Crop and Pest Management in the Netherlands: experience from 7 years of NGO campaigning, Hans Muilerman, Natuur en Milieu, Netherlands [PDF 1,35MB]

DISCUSSION GROUPS

Three discussion groups looked at different levels of intervention for the promotion of pesticide use reduction and Integrated Crop and Pest Management: EU and national policies, non-governmental standards and NGO campaigning. The aim was to address key questions and to find indicators to monitor progress in all three areas of intervention.

GROUP A - EU AND NATIONAL POLICIES

Chair: Gergely Simon, Clean Air Action Group, Hungary

• Do we need a legislative framework for Integrated Crop and Pest Management similar to the one already in place for organic production? What would be acceptable minimum standards for Integrated Crop and Pest Management?
• What is needed to extend Integrated Crop and Pest Management to arable crops?
• What do we need in terms of legislation to make biopesticides an alternative to hazardous chemical pesticides?
  

GROUP B - NON-GOVERNMENTAL STANDARDS

Chair: Lars Neumeister, PAN Germany Board

• What are the pros and cons of NGO engagement with individual and multi-stakeholder sustainability initiatives?
• How far can or should NGOs go in publicising and supporting private standards for pesticide use reduction?
• Do supermarkets serve as a force for good or for evil in terms of pesticide use reduction and Integrated Crop and Pest Management?
  

GROUP C - NGO CAMPAIGNING

Chair: Susanne Smolka, PAN Germany

• How to be more effective in stimulating consumer demand and access to organic and pesticide free products?
• What are the funding opportunities for this type of campaigning?
• How to communicate effectively to the public and consumers the importance of pesticide free food?
• How should we address the issue of sustainable farming livelihoods in Europe and beyond?

PROGRAMME 9 SEPTEMBER

Field trip to Apofruit Cooperative and Integrated Pest Management Farm in Cesena

With more than 40 years experience, 130,000 tons production, a turnover of 132 million euros (2003) Apofruit is one of the leading Italian companies marketing fruit and vegetables, all of them obtained through IPM or organic farming (with the Consortium “Almaverde bio”, which is not only fruit and vegetables, but also a complete range of organic foodstuff). For more info: http://www.apofruit.it

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the European Commission – DG Environment, The Sigrid Rausing Trust and the Global Green Grants Fund.