Pesticide Resistance Action Plan 2019-2022.

The Present Action Plan implements the Danish National Action Plan on Pesticides 2017-2021, seeking to reduce the risk of weeds, fungus and pests developing resistance against pesticides. It focuses on all parts of agricultural production, including the selection of crops, the use of resistant varieties, and the development of technology. The Plan builds on the principle of Integrated Pest Management - IPM, and contemplates seven specific Focus Areas which are closely related to the IMP principles described in Annex 2. A description of how each of the Focus Areas are linked to the IPM principles are included. The Focus Areas are: 1. A varied and healthy crop rotation; 2. Appropriate cultivation methods; 3. Cultural-technical measures, resistant, and tolerant varieties; 4. Pest monitoring, alerts, and supervision; 5. Biological, physical, and other non-chemical methods; 6. Optimal choice of agents and dosage, and the use of anti-resistance strategies; 7. Monitoring the effects of the proposed measures. In addition, there are cross-cutting areas, which include: information and dissemination projects for farmers; and training of consultants and professional users of pesticides.
Shifting between different types of crops is considered one of the most important measures to counteract the development of pesticide resistance. Therefore, the Plan contemplates a baseline for a so-called crop rotation index based on data from farmers' annual reports on which crops are grown on which areas. In addition, the Plan contemplates the possibility of introducing a minimum number of years between growing identical crops; collaborative projects to limit the proportion of certain crops within a regional area; and increased information with a view to increasing farmers' focus on crop rotation in relation to preventing problems with pesticide resistance. Initiatives in the other Focus Areas include research concerning the effects of "conservation agriculture"; partnerships between actors to increase focus on resistant varieties and mixtures; the development of an image database with photo recognition facilitating the recognition of weeds and pests; the use of drones and image processing; promote the use of low-risk pesticides; testing of alternative pesticides; expansion of the existing alert system called the "Registration Network", which is operated by SEGES; development of digital solutions to provide swift and readily available information regarding pesticide alternatives; the launch in 2020 of a study of the development of herbicide resistance since 2013; etc.