The inquiry for the evaluation of the institutional profile of the European Integrated Pest Management Network (IPM EUROPE) comprised a total number of 48 institutes based on the NRI list of IPM members. The response to the inquiry yielded a feed back of about 33%. Considering that often the answer forms were not completely filled out, a comprehensive evaluation of data according to the format of the questionnaire was hardly possible and did not seem advisable. In most cases, however, information about institutes that had not replied and data missing on the returned answer sheets could be retrieved from the institutes' homepages on the INTERNET. Out of the total number of institutes forming the IPM EU network, 46 institutes, or 96%, have set up their own homepage and are present on the INTERNET. Since in several cases different departments within an institute are involved in IPM EU activities, the analysis comprises a total number of 56 institutes/departments.
In total, seven out of 16 EU Member States are represented in the IPM EU network (Fig. 1). The distribution of institutes/departments of IPM EU shows a strong involvement of UK institutes in this network. There is also a high number of institutes from Germany and the Netherlands involved in IPM EU activities. The number of participating institutes from France, Portugal, Italy and Sweden proved to be considerably lower.
Fig. 1: Number of institutes/departments involved in IPM Europe among the EIARD Member States
The clustering of the research and development institutes according to the research orientation shows - as was to be expected - the highest number of institutes in the field of plant protection (Fig.2). However, a broad set of other disciplines, ranging from natural resource management, integrated production systems, animal health, forestry to nutrition, is also represented in the network. The multidisciplinary composition of the IPM EU network is reflected in the research activities of the different institutes which vary considerably, inter alia bio-control, molecular virology, aquaculture, behavioural biology, biosystematics, organic agriculture, post-harvest systems, agricultural services, land tenure systems and information services.
The multidisciplinary composition of IPM-EU is further reinforced by the different institutional categories (Fig. 3). Although most of the IPM EU organisations belong to the research sector (71%), a fairly large amount of development organisations (18%) and NGOs (9%) are represented in the network. Even the private sector is involved in IPM EU, with a proportion of 2% (Fig. 3).
Fig. 2: Categorisation of IPM institutes according to their institutional orientation
Fig. 3: Types of categories to which the organisations belong (in percent)
The Bureau for the Development of Research on Tropical Perennial Oil Crops comprises a network of 21 European institutions and individuals. The ATSAF inquiry, however, yielded a feed back of just eight institutions. Due to the poor response of the BUROTROP institutes, a detailed analysis did not seem advisable. However, according to BUROTROP publications, the network is apparently represented in seven European countries. Most institutes are located in the UK, France and Germany (Fig.4).
Fig. 4: Distribution of BUROTROP institutes in Europe
With respect to the institutional research and development focus, most institutes are working in the sector of plant production (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5: BUROTROP affiliated European institutes according to their research and development orientation
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