Integrated Pest Management – (M.Sc.)

Formation for the integrated control of plagues, diseases and weeds in agriculture so that they socially know his principles and methods for an economic and technically efficient and acceptable production.

Crop yield heavily depends, both in quantity and in quality, on arthropod pest, disease and weed incidence. Many references report losses of potential yield from 25 to 50 %. To decrease these losses, using economically feasible, technically efficient, ecologically sound and socially acceptable methods, is the aim of Integrated Pest Management. Agriculture needs, then, crop protection specialists with the necessary technical and theoretical skills for employment within the modern crop protection industry, or within academia.

Pesticides are still the main tool used in Crop Protection, even in the most developed countries. It is well know that the indiscriminate use of pesticides is, jointly with fertilizers, the most important source of chemical pollution in agriculture. As a consequence, the decrease and rationalization of their use, and the development of other control methods are among the main objectives of the national and international research funding agencies.

The students of the master may choose between two itineraries: the first one is aimed to those persons interested in the more practical crop protection activities (like pest control advisers); the second one is aimed to those persons interested in continuing their studies through a Ph.D.

The master lasts for 2 academic courses. However, postgraduates (like Agricultural Engineers, Forest Engineers and Biologists) qualify to obtain the accreditation of their previous academic training, and may complete the master requirements in 1 or one and a half academia courses. It has a modular structure, what allows the student to design his own calendar. The compulsory courses are scheduled 4 days per week, in the afternoon.

Teaching is based on the interaction among the lecturers and the students. About 40% of the time will be allocated to practical activities, such as laboratory and field lectures, field trips, analyses of practical cases, team work and oral presentations. A Final Project is required, and could be done at the University of Lleida, other research centre or a company.