Resumen
AGROSUS will identify appropriate tools and agroecological strategies (AS) to prevent and manage
the occurrence of weeds in relevant crops, in conventional, organic and mixed farming, at the
eleven biogeographic regions of the European Union and associated countries
(Continental-Mediterranean-Atlantic-Macaronesian-Pannonian-Anatolian-Black-Sea-Boreal-Alpine-Steppic
-Artic), while reducing the reliance of synthetic herbicides to the environment and increasing
biodiversity of agroecosystems. The consortium integrates a multi-actor approach for farmers'
decision making and for including the different perspectives from stakeholders to decision-makers
that regulate and administer policies. In summary, AGROSUS will rely on i) expanded knowledge on
problematic weeds on European agriculture, current weeding techniques, and problems encountered by
farmers and advisors (around 500 farmers and advisors will be contacted for surveys, workshops and
discussion groups), ii) advanced detection tools iii) establishment of cultural, mechanical,
physical, biological, and biotechnological AS in 68 short-term experimental units sprayed all over
Europe, iv) actions carried out with stakeholders and policy makers to promote the most appropriate
initiatives at the field, administration and regulatory levels, and v) technology transfer and
training of stakeholders for prevention and management of weeds. The tools and strategies designed
will be developed, in collaboration with stakeholders, for the most problematic weeds of the
different regions. These strategies will be implemented in the most economically relevant crops at
the 11 biogeographic regions, and in conventional, organic and mixed farming systems. As well, the
environmental impact, and economic and social costs and benefits of combined AS for weed control
will be assessed in the 68 short- ds and in 15 medium to long-term already in course agroecological
fields, both in comparison with classical chemical weed
management.
