Redesigning Pest Control: A Quantitative Review of Integrated Pest Management and Biocontrol for Sustainable Agriculture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61978/sativa.v2i1.1429Keywords:
Integrated Pest Management, Biocontrol, Ecological Agriculture, Pesticide Reduction, Pollinator Services, Sustainable Farming, AgroecologyAbstract
The continued reliance on chemical pesticides in global agriculture presents environmental, health, and economic challenges. This study evaluates the efficacy of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and biocontrol strategies as sustainable alternatives. Drawing on secondary data from field trials and meta-analyses conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa and the U.S. Midwest, the analysis synthesizes quantitative outcomes related to pesticide reduction, crop yield, and ecosystem services. The methodology involved comparative analysis of intervention versus control outcomes, focusing on pest abundance, insecticide application rates, yield changes, and pollinator visitation. Results reveal that biocontrol interventions reduced pest abundance by 63% and increased yields by 43%, while IPM combined with ecosystem redesign cut insecticide use by 95% and boosted watermelon yields by 26–49%. Pollinator visitation also rose significantly, enhancing ecological resilience. The findings support the conclusion that ecologically integrated pest management strategies can reduce pesticide dependency without compromising, and often improving, agricultural productivity. These approaches are scalable when adapted to local agroecological conditions and supported by robust policy, education, and institutional frameworks.
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