Tom Allen-Stevens, Martin Lines, Ed Schofield - How IPM works for us: a farmer and agronomist’s perspective

Episode 16 – How IPM works for us: a farmer and agronomist’s perspectiveIn this episode of the Defra Farming Podcast, guest host Tom Allen-Stevens—an arable farmer in Oxfordshire and founder of the British On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN)—is joined by Cambridgeshire farmer Martin Lines and agronomist Ed Schofield.Martin and Ed share with Tom how they are applying integrated pest management (IPM) on-farm to reduce reliance on chemical inputs while maintaining productivity and supporting biodiversity. The conversation covers practical approaches to IPM planning, monitoring and evaluation, habitat management for beneficial insects, the role of resistant crop varieties, and the importance of effective collaboration between farmers and agronomists.The episode also highlights the launch of the UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025 and how farmers can get involved in research and innovation through initiatives like the ADOPT fund and IPM NET.🔗 Useful links mentioned in this episode:UK Pesticides National Action Plan 2025IPM NETDefra Farming blog - ADOPT Fund: guidance now available for innovation fundingInnovate UK – ADOPT: How it worksBritish On Farm Innovation Network (BOFIN)ASSIST ProjectThe Voluntary InitiativeProcessors and Growers Research Organisation (PGRO)