What is the primary goal of pest management?

The primary goal of pest management is to keep the pest population from exceeding a tolerable level. This concept is grounded in integrated pest management (IPM), which emphasizes managing pest populations in a way that minimizes economic loss while maintaining ecological balance. By setting action thresholds, pest management strategies can be implemented before pest populations reach levels that could cause significant harm to crops, ecosystems, or human health.

This approach recognizes that complete eradication of pests is often neither feasible nor desirable, as many pests play a role in the ecosystem and their absence might lead to other unforeseen issues. Furthermore, focusing solely on enhancing crop yield without considering pest presence can lead to unsustainable practices that harm the environment and reduce soil health over time. Similarly, relying on chemical solutions alone does not build resilience against pest outbreaks and can contribute to issues such as pesticide resistance. Hence, managing pest populations within a tolerable level balances the needs of production with environmental stewardship and sustainability.