Development of a Digital Learning Platform (Beneficial Organism Finder) for Plant Protection in Organic Farming for the pflanzenschutz.oekolandbau.de Online Portal

As part of the project, the plant protection section of the oekolandbau.de online portal was updated and further developed into a digital learning platform.

The aim was to create an interactive learning environment that enables users to engage independently and in a practical way with plant protection in organic farming. A key element of the project was the expansion of the existing online identification tool for pests and pathogens to include a ‘Beneficial Organism Finder’. Using crop- and pest-specific filters, the tool enables users to select suitable beneficial organisms for outdoor, stored-product and protected cultivation. Both modules were brought together under the name ‘Plant Doctor’ and linked to one another.

In addition, a digital training programme (‘Plant Protection Academy’) comprising several multiple-choice learning units was developed. It provides basic knowledge, pest- and beneficial-organism-specific content, as well as practical measures. The aim was to strengthen diagnostic skills and confidence in taking action in biological plant protection through a pedagogically sound and user-oriented approach.