An online integrated pest management tool - tested and adopted by farmers and advisors in the United Kingdom

Farmers cite lack of knowledge as a key barrier to further integrated pest management (IPM) uptake. An online IPM Tool was developed to provide guidance on IPM. The user enters information about the crops they are growing and pests (invertebrate pests, weeds and diseases) of concern in their farming system. The IPM Tool guides users towards effective control measures, provides independent information on each intervention, and records implementation as an IPM plan. The IPM Tool was tested by farmers and advisors. To survey their views, interpretation and experiences of using the IPM Tool, data were analyzed from questionnaires and interviews completed by 82 and 44 users, respectively, and from 231 IPM plans produced using the IPM Tool. Feedback from test users showed high levels of satisfaction. Insights were gained into enablers and barriers to using the IPM Tool and to the use of IPM more generally. IPM plans created by test users recorded substantial increases in their commitment to use IPM practices. Improvements to the IPM Tool were made based on the user feedback and it was released for free public use. Within 12 months of release, 1096 registered users in the UK had created 1746 IPM plans.