The agricultural production in the Neotropical region is highly affected by the attack of pests and diseases. Due to the overuse of pesticides, sustainable methods of control are in demand, such as biological control. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) considered the use of Biological control as a method to suppress the population of pests in several field agricultural systems and in protected crops systems. Biological control is gener ally appreciated today as an important component of IPM, and the demand for it is likely to spread as the IPM programs develop worldwide. The tropics present an important region for the application of biological control. The Neotropical region is characterized by its rich biodiversity, resulting in a wide range of natural enemies of pests represented by parasitoids, predators, and pathogens. Parasitoids are the natural enemies most used around the world for biological control. In this chapter, we present biological control programs using parasitoids established in the Neotropical region to control key pests of economic importance. Agricultural practices that maintain and enhance the action of natural enemies in crops will be reviewed, as the challenges and poten tial for the establishment of Biological Control programs using parasitoids in the Neotropical region.

Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is indigenous to South America. It has invaded several tomato-producing regions worldwide resulting from globalization of commerce and trade. T. absoluta is now considered one of the most devastating pests affecting tomato plants and fresh tomatoes. Although tomatoes are the primary host, T. absoluta can feed and develop on other solanaceous plants as well as plants from other botanical families, including 15 economically important crop species and weeds. Chemical control continues to be the primary management option, even in areas where T. absoluta is an invasive species. This occurs despite the well-documented effects of chemical insecticides on the environment and its low efficacy. In this article, we discuss the biology, ecology, and a more sustainable management for T. absoluta. The management plan includes periodic monitoring program to improve pest management strategies by detecting the presence or arrival of the pest in a given host plant, estimating population levels over time, and studying the distribution of the pest. Lastly, we discuss pest management from the perspective of Plantwise, an innovative global program which aims to contribute to increased food security, based on its implementation in Bolivia and Costa Rica. In both countries, plant clinics have been established to show farmers new ways of managing pests in a sustainable way while maintaining crop productivity. The implementation of the Plantwise program resulted in a reduction in pesticide use via incorporation of less toxic active ingredients and sustainable pest management strategies such as biological control. Plantwise has encouraged the use of cultural end ethological practices by smallholder farmers in participating countries.

Latin American countries present diverse agricultural systems, ranging from the subsistence agriculture in common property lands to large highly mechanized estates that produce crops for export. Despite this diversity, the adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) is commonly based on reducing the negative effect of pesticides on consumer health and on the environment. In most of Latin American countries, the agricultural sector is characterized by poor infrastructure in research and extension systems, a public sector with limited human resources that limits the dissemination of information and provides inappropriate credit and subsidy schemes, all of these have influenced negatively on the possibility of the success of IPM programs. Thus, some innovative alternatives have emerged from concerning public and private initiatives. In this regard, the Plantwise approach, as a framework for action, is to strengthen the capacity of agricultural institutions and organizations to establish more effective and sustainable national plant health systems. Plantwise is an innovative global program led by the Centre for Agriculture and Biosciences International (CABI), which aims to contribute to increased food security, alleviated poverty, and improved livelihoods by enabling male and female farmers around the world to lose less, produce more, and improve the quality of their crops. Strengthening plant health systems removes barriers to make accessible to farmers sustainable approaches for pest control. In this chapter, we include some historical review of IPM concepts, strategies, and some experiences in application of IPM in Latin America. Also we discuss the potential and challenges for implementation and adoption of IPM practices and the ways how Plantwise has engaged with the key partners in the different countries where the program is being implemented, promoting the implementation of IPM approaches in order to improve agriculture systems, mainly those from subsistence agriculture, in Latin America.

No abstract