Integrated Pest Management and Organic Farming

Dear Colleagues,

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Organic Farming (OF) share common foundations, rooted in ecology and are concerned with human, environmental and economic health. These sustainable methods are focused on the promotion and improving of environmental quality, farm economic viability, social equity, and soil and human health. Organic is wholly compatible with advanced, biologically-based IPM and most IPM principles and tactics fit with organic systems. IPM and organic methods can address environmental and human health concerns by applying a practical understanding of agroecology to enhance stability, resilience, and sustainability in agriculture production. Both IPM and organic approaches can enhance and synergize with each other through collaborations on research, technology transfer, and education to drive more environmentally sustainable crop and pest management tactics. The European Union requires the application principles of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) that fit within sustainable farm management and, for its part, Organic Farming to be able to meet human expectations for higher-quality food. Integrated Pest Management and Organic Agriculture, if it is to improve Synergistic Partnership, can play an important role to meet these expectations.

Papers are sought which outline: (1) Integrated Pest Management (IPM) arose more than 50 years ago; are we finally adopting the principles of IPM in plant protection? (2) How IPM and Organic Agriculture, in a synergistic partnership, can improve the sustainability of agriculture and food systems? (3) How new approaches in managing the system for beneficial processes and cycles and creating healthy soil and plants match human expectations? (4) How can we develop and implement ecologically-based strategies, technologies, and products for the sustainable management of insects, pests, and weeds in crops and rangeland?

Dr. Ruggero Petacchi
Prof. Dr. Giovanni Burgio
Guest Editors

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• Human health
• IPM and Organic Farming synergistic partnership
• Pest Management in Agroecology