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ARS Home » Plains Area » El Reno, Oklahoma » Oklahoma and Central Plains Agricultural Research Center » Peanut and Small Grains Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #398610
Research Project: Management Strategies for Invasive Aphid Pests of Cereals

Location: Peanut and Small Grains Research Unit

Title: Recent advances in agroecological research for increasing scope of areawide pest management of arthropods in cropping systems

Author
item BREWER, MICHAEL - Texas A&M University
item Elliott, Norman - Norm

Submitted to: Current Opinion in Insect Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/25/2023
Publication Date: 3/2/2023
Citation: Brewer, M.J., Elliott, N.C. 2023. Recent advances in agroecological research for increasing scope of areawide pest management of arthropods in cropping systems. Current Opinion in Insect Science. 56. Article 101019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2023.101019.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cois.2023.101019

Interpretive Summary: Areawide pest management (AWPM) is appropriate for pests that regularly recur at densities of economic concern throughout a broad area. Most AWPM programs focus on a single pest management tactic (tactic-oriented) to suppress or eradicate a pest within a defined area. We present recent advances in genetic technology and agricultural engineering to enhance tactic-oriented AWPM programs. We discuss the challenge and opportunity to couple tactic-oriented AWPM programs with the growing knowledge base on agroecological farming, which centers on the innate capacity of the agroecosystem to suppress pests as moderated by environmental and agricultural factors (agroecological-oriented AWPM). Finally, we propose steps to guide feasibility analysis, research and development, and achieve societal support for AWPM, in order to advance the science and practice of AWPM.

Technical Abstract: We propose that a growing research base considering pest management as an ecosystem service can be leveraged to expand areawide pest management (AWPM) to an agroecological-oriented framework when addressing pest arthropods in cropping systems. This AWPM framework centers on the innate capacity of the agroecosystem to suppress pests and is supported with strategic insertion of AWPM tactics. Recent studies on agroecological pest management are valuable to identify AWPM candidates. The estimation and predictability of AWPM outcomes may be improved by measuring effects of interactions of pest and pest suppression agents, and mediating factors such as landscape and weather. This knowledge helps formulate selection and strategic insertion of AWPM tactics into the system to support innate pest suppression. Advances in biotechnology and agricultural engineering have increased effectiveness of AWPM tactics, further improving positive AWPM outcomes. Furthermore, multifunctional agricultural, environmental, and economic benefits may be seen when adopting this framework.