Sustainable Plant Pest Management Through Optimization and Minimization

Abstract

Plant pests and diseases have significant negative impacts on global food security, world trade and rural livelihoods. Climate change exacerbates these impacts in certain parts of the world. Overreliance on pesticides as the primary tool for plant pest management leads to problems such as pesticide resistance and pest resurgence. Environmental and food safety concerns are also associated with overuse of pesticides in crop production. There is clearly a need for a shift in pest management strategies and practices globally. Optimization of structures and functions in crop production agroecosystems through soil conservation practices and cropping diversification can improve pest regulation services provided in the systems. Prioritization of safer alternatives and practices in the IPM pyramid, such as resistant varieties and biopesticides, helps minimize the use of potentially risky agricultural inputs such as synthetic pesticides. Investment is needed to boost the development of innovative green technologies and practices. Production, distribution, use and regulatory capacities need to be strengthened to facilitate largescale adoption of green technologies and practices. Finally, policy, financial and market instruments should be wielded to provide an enabling environment for the transformation to sustainable plant pest and disease management strategies and practices worldwide.

Impacts of Technical Environment on the Adoption of Organic Fertilizers and Biopesticides Among Farmers: Evidence From Heilongjiang Province, China

“…There are serious contradictions between agricultural development in China and the environment, among which, agricultural, non-point-source pollution is the top priority. Mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticides have contributed greatly to the growth of food production [6] . The heavy dependence on mineral fertilizers and synthetic pesticides, and excessive application rates of both have risked severe soil and surface water pollution and have seriously restricted the development of green agriculture in China [7] .…”

Investigation of factors enhancing droplets spreading on leaves with burrs

“…Pesticide application is one of the most effective and indispensable means to control pests during crop production, which mainly targets the stems and leaves of the plants ( Song et al., 2019 ). However, environmental pollution and food safety risk issues in crop production could be attributed to the runoff of pesticides to the soil, atmosphere, and water, which could also result in over-residual of agrochemicals in crop products ( Xia et al., 2022 ). Droplet loss to soil can be reduced by increasing the spread area and retention of droplets on plant foliage.…”