The Horizon Europe CSA FORTUNA (Future innovation for pesticide use reduction in agriculture), coordinated by JKI-SF, is pleased to announce the conference 'Research Needs and Innovative Pathways towards Systemic Crop Protection Strategies'. The conference will bring together researchers, advisors and other stakeholders working on pesticide use reduction and sustainable pest management in European agriculture.

System approaches in crop protection are set to become the cornerstone of future crop management. This conference will provide a platform for discussing innovative cropping systems and integrated approaches to crop protection that combine preventive measures, novel control tactics and technologies as well as non-chemical and biological solutions.

We particularly welcome research contributions focusing on approaches that combine multiple methods into crop protection strategies and exploit their synergies. In addition, we invite contributions from the social sciences addressing economic, institutional and policy dimensions as well as pathways for facilitating reduced pesticide use.

By bringing together researchers from diverse disciplines, the conference aims to advance system approaches in crop protection and to foster exchange across biological, technological, economic, and societal perspectives.

The conference aims to provide an overview of research on system approaches in crop protection and innovations that can contribute to a 50% reduction in pesticide use and risk or pave the way for a transition towards pesticide-free agriculture, and identify future research needs for sustainable crop protection.

Session 1: Integrated crop protection strategies: combining methods into system approache
This session focuses on system-based approaches that integrate multiple crop protection methods and disciplinary perspectives. Contributions should address how combinations of methods and technologies can enhance resilience and contribute to pesticide use reduction.

Session 2: Emerging innovative pest management tactics
This session highlights novel approaches to pest management, with particular emphasis on prevention, non-chemical and biological solutions, and other innovative technologies and control tactics.

Session 3: Social science, value-chain and policy approaches enabling pesticide reduction
This session addresses the economic, institutional, and societal dimensions of crop protection. Contributions may focus on transition pathways, stakeholder engagement, policy frameworks, value-chain approaches, and other mechanisms supporting reduced pesticide use.

To participate, please register here by October 17, 2026.