ENDURE’S Information Centre (EIC) will be tested by advisers at the Cereals Event 2009 on June 10 and 11 at Royston, Hertfordshire, UK. EIC is the web-based system for sharing Best Practices across Europe. Wageningen UR has a leading role in the development of ENDURE’s Information Centre. Advisers at the show will be invited to ‘road test’ the Information Centre at a specially convened workshop.
About EIC
The EIC is a dynamic web-application which disseminates information on best practices, IPM measures and non-chemical alternatives in crop protection. EIC is a central point of reference for extending expert knowledge, recommendations and advice for extension services, advisers, farmers and researchers. Users can search using a combination of crop and pest or disease/region and as a result receive information on IPM measures. All the available IPM measures are tested in the field, cost effective and practical to implement. The aim is to present a quality selection to EIC users, and enable them to easily search for information which usually is only available in national languages or gives information about very regional practices. Such practices could have the potential for adoption in different regions or reflect very valuable potential for disease or pest control. All the information is scientifically sound and the different levels of their practicability are indicated.
Available information
Currently there are 100 reports, mainly on potato, and 158 pieces of information about projects. In the coming months documents will be available about crop protection in wheat, pomefruit and potato. Later this year maize, tomato, field vegetables and grapes will be added. EIC will not offer a complete database of all integrated measures, but offers a European quality selection (European Best Practices) with information validated by experts.