Agriculture

Integrated Pest Management & Product Selection

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) combines cultural, biological and chemical measures to efficiently manage crop diseases caused by biotic or abiotic factors. This system involves all relevant control measures, based on their local availability and cost-effectiveness. There are no absolute or stringent criteria to precisely describe IPM, but it is rather a flexible system that combines local resources with recent technological advances, knowledge and experience. While the world population is constantly increasing, food and fiber demands are becoming more urgent. We need to produce higher yields with less inputs while protecting the environment. IPM can aid this mission and be a substantial part of the solution since it comprises the advised approach to control and tame crop diseases in a cost-effective and environmentally sound way.

IPM Fundamentals

IPM is a dynamic and flexible system that leverages all available means and technologies to effectively prevent and combat crop pest and diseases. IPM principles allow the management of plant insects, weeds and diseases effectively while ensuring low environmental impact.

Resistance Management

Resistance is a basic survival mechanism and occurs through natural selection. All farmers, regardless of their production system (organic, conventional, biotech), are challenged with the simple fact that every pest control method has a limited life span because pests naturally evolve and become resistant.

Product Selection & Purchase

Pesticides constitute an integral part of IPM strategy, but they should be selected and used responsibly with special attention to safety. Selecting the appropriate crop protection product is one of the most important steps to control and combat agricultural pests efficiently. Before purchasing any pesticide, there are several factors that should be taken into consideration.