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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Southern Insect Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #409302
Research Project: Insect Control and Resistance Management in Corn, Cotton, Sorghum, Soybean, and Sweet Potato, and Alternative Approaches to Tarnished Plant Bug Control in the Southern United States

Location: Southern Insect Management Research

Title: Pesticide use in integrated pest and pollinator management framework to protect pollinator health

Author
item PHAN, NGOC - University Of Arkansas
item BIDDINGER, DAVID - Pennsylvania State University
item RAJOTTE, EDWIN - Pennsylvania State University
item SMAGGHE, GUY - Vrije Universiteit Brussel
item Reddy, Gadi V.P.
item REN, ZONG-XIN - Chinese Academy Of Sciences
item JOSHI, NEELENDRA - University Of Arkansas

Submitted to: Pest Management Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/21/2024
Publication Date: 12/9/2024
Citation: Phan, N.T., Biddinger, D.J., Rajotte, E.G., Smagghe, G., Reddy, G.V., Ren, Z., Joshi, N.K. 2024. Pesticide use in integrated pest and pollinator management framework to protect pollinator health. Pest Management Science. 80:1-6. https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8582.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ps.8582

Interpretive Summary: Pesticides have been instrumental in safeguarding global agriculture from the devastating impacts of pests and diseases. However, their use has given rise to a host of challenges, including pesticide resistance, harm to non-target organisms, and environmental contamination issues. The evolution of pest management strategies, particularly the transition from conventional pesticide use to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and, more recently, Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM), signifies a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and holistic approaches. IPM emphasizes the importance of non-chemical tactics and aims to reduce pesticide reliance, thereby mitigating unintended consequences. The concept of IPPM expands on IPM principles by considering the health of pollinators within the pest management framework. Moving forward, it is essential to continue refining IPPM strategies, encouraging international collaboration and data sharing, and adopting best practices from various regions to create a comprehensive and effective approach to pest and pollinator management.

Technical Abstract: Pesticides have played a crucial role in controlling pests and diseases, preventing widespread suffering and crop losses that led to historical calamities such as the Black Plague and the Great Irish Famine. However, the use of pesticides has introduced its own set of challenges, including resistance, secondary pest outbreaks, harm to non-target organisms like pollinators, and environmental contamination. The concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) emerged in response to concerns about pesticide misuse. It emphasizes non-chemical pest control methods, such as cultural practices, biological control, and crop rotation, with pesticides as a last resort. IPM has evolved over time, influenced by regulations like the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which focused on human health protection, especially for children. The development of systemic pesticides, like neonicotinoids, when in used as a chemical control tactic in IPM offered more effective and targeted pest control but raised concerns about their impact on pollinators. In recent years, Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM) has emerged as an expanded approach, incorporating pollinator health into pest management strategies. In this article we discuss this new approach, present a case study on pesticide application in apple orchards, and highlight the importance of IPPM, which is critical for sustaining agriculture and protecting vital pollinators while maintaining pest control.