Insects and insecticides in agricultural landscapes: : socio-ecological challenges and patterns
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Pest management is essential to prevent crop losses. Chemical pesticides are standard practice in conventional farming systems because they are simple to use, cheap, and usually highly effective in providing short-term reduction in pest densities. Yet, their use can also lead to impacts on human health and biodiversity, pollution of air and water, and evolution of resistance in target pests. Chemical-based pest management can lead to lock-in because of an interplay of reinforcing environmental factors, science and technology, and sociopolitical factors, the so-called pesticide treadmill. To reduce farmers' dependency upon pesticides and to lessen the associated environmental burden, a solid understanding of the socio-ecological features of pest management decision-making is needed. Using a multidisciplinary approach, I aimed to provide critically needed insight in the system dynamics underlying farmers' pest control practices, and elucidate key principles governing a transition towards sustainable pest management. pest management alternatives could help farmers to overcome barriers to transition from chemical to ecologically-based pest management.
DOI: 10.18174/538522
Author: Lieneke Bakker
Institution: Wageningen University & Research
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Life on land, Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W3166436394