Environmental concern sparks renewed interest in IPM - the system of pest control called Integrated Pest Management

Food Review, April-June, 1991 by Catherine Greene

Because consumers are concerned about both food safety and the effects of agriculture on the environment, several States have become interested in promoting the environmental benefits of IPM-grown food in the marketplace. A preliminary study in California, however, indicated that consumers would be confused by an "IPM-grown" label. Other surveys showed that consumers wanted assurances of no pesticide residues. Instead of promoting IPM-grown food, States could promote low or no pesticide residue foods in which IPM is used.

The California study also suggested that consumers would be interested in more general educational materials explaining the efforts of growers, processors, and retailers to ensure food safety and reduce environmental pollution. The New York IPM program recently experimented with one approach for educating consumers about IPM. A poster explaining the goals and techniques of IPM, provided to growers for display at farm stands and U-pick operations, received favorable responses.

Although IPM adoption has been good in some States and for certain crops (for example, cotton in Texas and tomatoes in California), other growers have lagged in adopting IPM. Some growers perceive that IPM involves more production risk. Not all crops have IPM programs, due in part to stagnant Federal funding for IPM research. Also, in some States and in some crops there is a smaller advantage for its use. For example, hot, humid Southeastern States generally have heavier pest problems, and some crops, like fresh-market tomatoes, have more insects and diseases.

IPM is both an approach to pest control and a developing set of techniques. While synthetic pesticides are still a critical component in most IPM systems, new strategies for preventing pest damage to crops are still being developed. The suppression of pest populations below economically damaging levels, and the development of alternative pest control techniques are goals of both sustainable agriculture and IPM.

Development of gene-transfer procedures, systems management techniques, and other new technologies are allowing more rapid advances in pest management. However, although revolutionary pest control solutions may become available during the next century, State and Federal regulations on pesticide use are already tightening, and IPM programs that reduce pesticide use will continue to be important during the coming decades.

PHOTO : Figure 1. IPM Permits New York Apple Growers To Use Fewer Pesticides

PHOTO : Figure 2. Vegetable IPM Funding Increases

PHOTO : The conventional practice of spraying pesticides by the calendar has become uncommon for canning-tomato growers who use the integrated pest management systems.

PHOTO : Cotton farmers in Texas use integrated pest management systems extensively.

References

Adkisson, P. L. "Integrated Pest Management."

Bulletin of the Entomological

Society of America, Fall 1986, pp.

136-141.

C. A. Francis, C. B. Flora, and L. D.

King, editors. Sustainable Agriculture

in Temperate Zones. New York, NY,