Future IPM in Europe - the PURE project's first stakeholder congress

The first stakeholder congress of the EU PURE project was held on the picturesque shores of Lake Garda, at Riva del Garda, Italy, from 19-21 March 2013, surrounded by sundrenched cliffs and impressive snow-capped peaks. Two years into this project, which aims to provide practical integrated pest management (IPM) solutions to reduce dependence on pesticides in selected major farming systems in Europe, this congress was open to all stakeholders interested in IPM in addition to providing the annual meeting for project members. PURE members presented research conducted during the first two-years of the project, future plans and practical solutions in IPM that have been identified already. The congress was attended by over 600 people (scientists from academia and industry, advisors, farmers and policy makers) and comprised plenary sessions on 19 and 21st March, four concurrent parallel sessions on the 20th, evening workshops and poster presentations.