What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is best understood as a sustainable approach to managing pests that combines multiple strategies to minimize their impact on the environment and economy. This method incorporates a variety of practices, including biological control, habitat manipulation, cultural practices, and the judicious use of chemical controls when necessary. By focusing on the life cycles of pests and understanding their natural enemies, IPM aims to use the most effective and environmentally-friendly techniques to reduce pest populations while minimizing risks to human health and the surrounding ecosystem.

This holistic strategy acknowledges that while it is unrealistic to eradicate all pests entirely, effective management can maintain pest populations below damaging thresholds. Additionally, IPM encourages monitoring and decision-making based on evidence and pest presence, rather than preemptively applying chemical controls, thereby reducing unnecessary pesticide use and promoting ecological balance.