• International experts gathered to address the challenges of integrated pest management in a context of climate change and globalisation and to discuss the need for agroecological transition.
• The training programme was designed to reinforce technical skills, build regional networks and provide solutions adapted to Mediterranean agricultural systems.

In the global context of climate emergency and the pressing need to ensure food security and sustainable agrifood systems, integrated pest management (IPM) has emerged as a crucial strategy to reduce reliance on chemical products, preserve biodiversity, and improve crop resilience.

Aware of this challenge, CIHEAM Zaragoza organised the advanced course Integrated Pest Management for Sustainable Agriculture, held from 17 to 22 March. The training provided the latest technical, regulatory and methodological insights to facilitate a realistic and effective agroecological transition aligned with both European and international frameworks.

Specialised content and integrated focus

The programme was structured in 10 comprehensive thematic modules including diagnostics and understanding of pests, population dynamics, damage thresholds, and factors influencing pest outbreaks; major challenges for IPM - such as reducing the use of plant protection products, preventing emerging and invasive organisms, mitigating climate change and addressing resistance to phytosanitary products; a holistic approach combining agroecology, the One Health concept, and sustainability across the entire value chain; and emerging technologies such as precision agriculture, robotics, artificial intelligence, biological control, and applied biotechnology.

The course also included a section on knowledge-sharing networks such as the European project IPMWorks or the FAO’s Farmer Field Schools. Furthermore, it presented case studies focused on orchards, arable crops, protected vegetables, and vine crops, with a strong emphasis on integrated management, economic efficiency and territorial adaptability.

Regional impact and Mediterranean cooperation

One of the main conclusions of the course was that the success of IPM not only depends on technical tools but also on an integrated, territorialised and participatory vision, that combines science, public policy, digitalisation, and local know-how.

The course held particular significance for Mediterranean countries, offering solutions specifically adapted to their agricultural systems, where traditional practices coexist with new phytosanitary pressures stemming from global trade and climate change. It also reinforced essential technical and institutional capacities for implementing sustainable plant health policies, aligning IPM practices with broader policy frameworks such as the European Green Deal, the Farm to Fork strategy and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Another objective of the course was to promote stronger regional cooperation, encouraging dialogue and knowledge-sharing among technical specialists, researchers and public policy-makers from the northern and southern Mediterranean countries. Speakers advocated for the adoption of emerging technologies, while considering their viability within diverse local contexts and the need for developing progressive implementation strategies. This includes the harmonisation of regulatory and operational approaches at a crucial time for strengthening biosecurity and building resilience in agriculture across the region.

A platform of reference for advanced training in plant health

The course has firmly consolidated CIHEAM Zaragoza as a leading point of reference for advanced training in plant health, underlining the value of an integrated and regionalised approach to integrated pest management. The active engagement of international experts and professionals from Mediterranean countries provided a valuable space for learning and exchanging high-level technical and strategic knowledge. The combination of robust scientific content, a practical orientation, and geographical diversity provides a strong framework for advancing towards more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive agricultural systems throughout the Euro-Mediterranean region.