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

Abstract Farmers cite lack of knowledge as a key barrier to further integrated pest management uptake. An online integrated pest management tool was developed to provide guidance on integrated pest management. The user enters information about the crops they are growing and pests (invertebrate pests, weeds, and diseases) of concern in their farming system. The integrated pest management tool guides users toward effective control measures, provides independent information on each intervention, and records implementation as an integrated pest management plan. The integrated pest management tool was tested by farmers and advisors. To survey their views, interpretation, and experiences of using the integrated pest management tool, data were analyzed from questionnaires and interviews completed by 82 and 44 users, respectively, and from 231 integrated pest management plans produced using the integrated pest management tool. Feedback from test users showed high levels of satisfaction. Insights were gained into enablers and barriers to using the integrated pest management tool and to the use of integrated pest management more generally. integrated pest management plans created by test users recorded substantial increases in their commitment to use integrated pest management practices. Improvements to the integrated pest management tool were made based on the user feedback and it was released for free public use. Within 12 mo of release, 1,096 registered users in the United Kingdom had created 1,746 integrated pest management plans.