Europe PMC · 2026-03-26
Researchers measured how well farmers in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England are using integrated pest management (IPM) — a strategy that combines multiple techniques to control pests while reducing pesticide use. Average adoption scored 58 out of 100, with English growers leading at 64, suggesting that supportive national policies and infrastructure help farmers use fewer chemicals more effectively.
Average IPM adoption score across Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and England was 58 out of 100, with scores ranging from 5 to 100.
English growers led with an average score of 64 out of 100, showing stronger uptake of core IPM practices than the other three regions.
This is the first study to apply a single universal IPM metric across multiple countries, enabling direct regional comparisons and long-term benchmarking.