Sustainable Pest Control In Fabaceae-rich Innovative Cropping Systems

The SPECIFICS project made significant progress in 2024. WP1, completing key milestones and deliverables. Research focused on genetic diversity and molecular mechanisms related to stress resistance in pea and faba bean, revealing plant variability in seedling establishment and leaf weevil damages and identifying sources of aphid resistance. Conserved genetic loci for frost tolerance and aphanomyces resistance were identified across legume species, and pea introgression lines combining resistance QTLs to multiple diseases and pests were produced. Two PhD theses were successfully defended. In WP2, field experiments on legume-based intercrops in Angers and Dijon showed mixed results due to high biotic pressure. A bioinformatics pipeline was developed to study pathogen and microbial diversity in pea-grown soils contaminated by Aphanomyces euteiches, and agroecological cropping systems were advanced through field surveys and agronomic diagnosis. A new biological control indicator for pest insects was developed, and a prototype tool for assessing disease and pest risks in legume-rich cropping systems was created. In WP3, a DEA-based benchmarking analysis was published, and performance analysis expanded with AGROSYST/DEPHY data. Pesticide-free systems were tested, revealing varied economic performance. Market trends in legume-based food products were analyzed, highlighting soybean dominance. Research also examined how firms organize their supply through contracts supporting legume-based cropping systems. WP4 focused on administrative follow-up and communication, with successful Scientific Advisory Board and Advisory Committee meetings. A trainee webinar was more successful in 2024, and a training course on translational genetics was created. Overall, the project continued to advance, contributing to the understanding and development of sustainable legume-based cropping systems. The annual meeting took place on December 4th and 5th 2024.