Biological Control Strategies in Integrated Pest Management

Biological control strategies harness living organisms, including predators, parasitoids, pathogens and competitors, to suppress pest populations within a broader integrated pest management (IPM) framework. IPM emphasises the judicious combination of cultural, mechanical, biological and, where necessary, chemical tactics to achieve long-term pest suppression with minimal environmental impact. Classical biological control involves the introduction of natural enemies to establish permanent populations against invasive or endemic pests. Augmentative biological control, by contrast, supplements resident populations through periodic releases of mass-reared agents. Conservation biological control seeks to enhance the efficacy of indigenous enemies by manipulating habitat features or reducing non-target impacts of agrochemicals. Together these approaches exploit trophic interactions and ecosystem services to maintain pest densities below economic thresholds, thereby reducing reliance on synthetic pesticides and fostering agricultural sustainability. Advances in molecular ecology, precision monitoring and ecological modelling are refining agent selection, release strategies and habitat management, while economic and social research is paving the way for widespread adoption across diverse farming contexts.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have highlighted the critical importance of system-scale complexity in biological control. Analysis of global pest management research reveals that most experimental work occurs under simplified laboratory conditions and treats control tactics in isolation, overlooking multi-trophic interactions, socio-economic variables and landscape dynamics. A more holistic research agenda is advocated to integrate biological agents within real-world farming systems and accelerate adoption. In another study, the release of a host-specific parasitoid against a major invasive mealybug species in Southeast Asia not only restored crop yields but also reduced pressure on natural forests. Satellite imagery and multi-year field surveys demonstrated a marked slowdown in deforestation rates following successful biocontrol, illustrating how pest management interventions can deliver both agricultural and environmental benefits at landscape scale.

Biological Control Strategies in Integrated Pest Management publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in biological control strategies in integrated pest management across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Classical biological control: Introduction of non-native natural enemies to establish permanent populations and suppress target pests.

Augmentative biological control: Periodic release of mass-reared or collected natural enemies to boost control of pest populations.

Conservation biological control: Manipulation of the environment or farming practices to enhance the effectiveness of indigenous natural enemies.

Natural biological control: Regulation of pests by resident natural enemies without direct human intervention.

Integrated pest management (IPM): A systemic approach combining biological, cultural, mechanical and chemical methods to manage pests sustainably.

References

1. Pest management science often disregards farming system complexities. Communications Earth & Environment (2023).
2. Biological control of an agricultural pest protects tropical forests. Communications Biology (2019).
3. BioControl Agents in Europe: Substitution Plant Protection Active Substances or a New Paradigm?. Agrochemicals (2023).
4. When is it biological control? A framework of definitions, mechanisms, and classifications. Journal of Pest Science (2021).
5. Biological control using invertebrates and microorganisms: plenty of new opportunities. BioControl (2017).