Researchers, advisors and growers working together to design monitoring methods for functional agro-biodiversity

The value of functional agro-biodiversity (FAB) for favoring natural pest regulation and then reducing pesticide use in fruit production is generally acknowledged. Many fruit growers try to favor FAB through different technics (diversified hedges, nesting boxes…) but they often lack of means to evaluate how their actions may indeed contribute to FAB. In this context, our research project aimed at developing FAB monitoring methods in order to help fruit growers to modify their practices and enhance the performance of natural enemies to reduce pest pressure. To do so, we adopted collaborative research methods which allowed us to make some adjustments in our research question and our objectives. We realized questionnaires, interviews and organized workshops with growers and advisors to understand their needs and practices, and involved them in the design of FAB monitoring methods. Our development-driven approach progressively led us to adjust our research focus and research objectives. We started our research process with the idea of producing FAB monitoring methods to enhance one specific service: natural pest regulation. We finally ended in producing a diversity of FAB monitoring programs adapted to a diversity of use and a diversity of targeted services. On the basis of our experience, we discuss the conditions for developing collaborative and development-driven research. We especially show that this kind of research requires having flexible research objectives which can change over the time. It also requires long term research process to explore wide areas of interests for researchers and practitioners and to stabilize the research objectives