In the face of climate change and increasing pest pressures, European farmers are grappling with unprecedented challenges. Enter Jurij Marinko, a researcher from the Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School in Ljubljana, Slovenia, who has been delving into the world of decision support systems (DSSs) for integrated pest management (IPM). His recent study, published in the journal ‘Agronomy’, sheds light on why these powerful tools are not being used to their full potential and offers a roadmap for change.
Marinko’s research, conducted across 11 European countries, involved surveying 31 farmers and 94 farm advisors, researchers, and developers. The goal? To understand the barriers preventing the widespread adoption of DSSs and to propose tailored solutions. The findings are clear: trust, ease of use, and transparency are key factors that can make or break the adoption of these systems.
“Many DSSs have proven their effectiveness in scientific literature,” Marinko explains, “but their consultation by farmers and farm advisors is unexpectedly low.” This disconnect is a significant hurdle, given the environmental and economic benefits that validated IPM DSSs can bring. Marinko’s study highlights that the reasons for this low uptake vary widely, from socio-economic factors to previous experiences with DSSs.
So, what’s the solution? Marinko and his team used machine learning techniques to categorize respondents into clusters based on their survey responses. For farmers, the recommendations include building trust through co-development, offering free trials, organizing practical workshops, and providing clear instructions. For farm advisors and researchers, involvement in the development of DSSs and access to detailed information about their characteristics are crucial. DSS developers, meanwhile, have a 14-point checklist to improve trust, ease of use, and transparency.
The implications of this research are far-reaching. By increasing the uptake of DSSs, farmers can optimize their pest management strategies, reduce pesticide use, and lower production costs. This not only benefits the environment but also aligns with the European Commission’s strategies for stricter environmental criteria and protection.
Marinko’s study is a call to action for the agricultural community. “The use of DSSs can help farmers and farm advisors, especially in the area of holistic problem-solving,” he says. “This approach makes the proposed alternative explainable and allows the user to consider the context in which the alternative was proposed when deciding whether or not to follow the advice of the DSSs.”
As the agricultural sector continues to evolve, the integration of DSSs into farming practices could be a game-changer. Marinko’s research provides a clear path forward, offering practical solutions that can be implemented immediately. The future of agriculture may well depend on how quickly and effectively these recommendations are adopted.
