A scoping study of IPM compatible options for the management of key vegetable sucking pests

Abstract

The adoption of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) by the vegetable industry has progressed in recent years, thanks to a number of factors; the availability of new selective soft option products that are effective in controlling the major Lepidopterous pest species; the ability to rotate these selective products in some crops, thus reducing resistance pressure, and a greater awareness of crop scouting techniques used to assess insect pest pressure. This has lead to a reduced dependence, by leading growers, on older broad spectrum chemicals previously used for general pest control.
Producers are under increasing pressure from chain stores, processors, agents, and consumers to supply picture perfect produce. The chain stores move towards on farm bagging and enclosed packaging of product, so that it leaves the farm gate fully packaged and ready for sale, has pushed growers to even lower levels of insect tolerance. Unlike the box packed product, insects are trapped in the packaging and cannot escape. This move towards field packaging has implications for IPM practices and may require the industry to challenge both consumer and the market chains’ current perceptions.