Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
A buzzword defined differently by several individuals and groups to fit their own perspective 67 definitions (from 1959 to 2000)
The use of multiple tactics in a compatible manner
to maintain pest populations at levels below those causing economic injury while providing protection against hazards to humans, domestic animals, plants and the environment (Steering Committee for Pest Management Program, CA and Life Sciences of Cornell University, 1979)
Integrated
A broad interdisciplinary approach is taken using scientific principles of plant protection to fuse into a single system, a variety of management strategies and tactics; Integration of techniques must be compatible with the total plant production and marketing systems
Pests
All biotic agents that adversely affect plant production
Management
Decision making process to control pest populations in a planned, systematic way by keeping their numbers at economically acceptable levels
Goal of IPM
to optimize pest control in relation to the total plant production system in the light of economic, social and environmental conditions
Early proponents of IPM suggested using five basic strategies to improve insect management
Step 1. Monitor and scout insects to determine insect types and population levels. Step 2. Identify pest and host accurately. Step 3. Assess and consider economic or aesthetic injury thresholds. Step 4. Implement a treatment strategy using mechanical, cultural, biological, or chemical controls, or a combination of these strategies. Step 5. Evaluate the success of treatments.
The control tactics used in integrated pest management include
pest resistant or tolerant plants, and cultural, physical, mechanical, biological, and chemical control.
Term or expression used related to IPM (Bajwa and Kogan, 2002)
System = 24.2% Combination or multiple = 19.2% Economic threshold/ economic injury level = 17.3% Optimization/ maximization = 13.5% Social/ sociological >9.6%
Economics
53.8%
Environment
48.1%
Pest populations
40.4%
Pest control
38.3%
Methods or tactics
26.9%
Ecology or ecological
25%
What is the definition of IPM according to Kogan (1998)?
A decision support system for the selection and use of pest control tactics, based on cost/benefit analyses considering producers, society, and the environment
IPM integrates various pest management strategies harmoniously.
What does IPM aim to reduce?
The use of pesticides or the number of pesticide applications
Reducing pesticide use is a helpful step but not the ultimate goal of IPM.
True or false: No IPM threatens the survival of Homo sapiens.
TRUE
The absence of IPM can have dire consequences for human survival.
What are some promises of pesticides?
- Saves money
- Increases yield
- Saves lives
- Benefits wildlife
There are debates regarding the validity of these claims.
What are the perils of pesticides?
- Environmental
- Ecological
- Pest resurgence
- Pest replacement
- Evolutionary
- Pesticide resistance
- Economic
- Legislation
These perils highlight the negative impacts of pesticide use.
In what year did the full expression ‘Integrated Pest Management’ (IPM) appear in press?
1998
This marked a significant point in the evolution of pest management strategies.
Where did the scientific evolution of IPM mainly occur?
University of California, Berkeley and Riverside campuses
Research by scientists at these campuses contributed significantly to the development of IPM.
What organization held a symposium in 1965 that contributed to the concept of IPM?
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN
This symposium in Rome, Italy, was pivotal in discussing pest management.
The concept of Integrated control was redefined to be synonymous with what?
IPM
Integrated control originally referred to a combination of chemical and biological control methods.
