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What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a philosophy of agricultural pest control that looks to reduce the use of harmful chemical pesticides by incorporating a system of preventative cultural, physical, biological and chemical controls. The aim of the philosophy is to grow crops sustainably while protecting the health of the consumers, workers and the environment. Dudutech offers a range of these IPM products for use on a wide variety of farm types.

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By using IPM, growers help to make agriculture safer for consumers, farmworkers and the environment alike.

PRINCIPLES OF INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT (IPM)

An important part of the IPM philosophy is that it not only focuses on existing pests challenges but also on reducing pest invasions, emergence and resident populations.

A successful IPM program focuses on the following implementation approach:

Diagram of Implementation approach for a successful IPM program

Diagram of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Implementation

First, the grower, agronomist or Dudutech Technical Lead must correctly identify the pest or disease and understand their biology. Following this, the crop needs to be monitored or scouted to determine the scale and phase of the outbreak and establish an action threshold – a set of conditions that determine when intervention should be applied. With this in place, the grower can choose a combination of IPM products for use on the crop, and evaluate the outcomes. For further reading click here.

IPM is not a single pest control method but rather an integration of pest management strategies. 

Benefits of IPM

  • Reduced reliance on harmful chemicals
  • Promotes the health of consumers, farmers and the environment
  • Inherently promotes good crop and soil health practices
  • Positive effects on the health of plants and the crop yield
  • Avoids chemical resistance development issues
  • No Minimum Residue Limits (MRL)
  • Usually no Post Harvest Interval (PHI) and no Re-Entry Interval (REI)
  • Designed to work with standard crop care equipment
  • Wide coverage of important crop pests

The individual IPM products can be grouped according to their technique. Below are some examples of our IPM products.

IPM techniques:

 

Cultural Control

Growing practices which prevent establishment, survival, and reproduction of pests. Examples include:

  • Cleaning of equipment,
  • Weed management,
  • No-till or zero tillage,
  • Media sterilisation,
  • Nutrient and soil management (RHIZATECH, pHUSION, TRIDENT, RIGEL-G, SIRIUS, EZYFLOW).

Mechanical and Physical Control

Exclusion or trapping of pests using physical barriers and mechanisms. Examples include:

  • Attract and trap mechanisms,
    • Sticky cards (STICKTECH YELLOW and BLUE)
    • Roller traps (OPTIROLL),
    • Hanging traps (DELTA TRAP),
    • Pheromone lures.
  • Plant-free buffer zones,
  • Constructed growing areas
    • Greenhouses,
    • Tunnels,
    • Indoor grow houses.

Biological Control

Use of natural pest predators, antagonists and beneficial organisms to manage pest populations. Examples include:

  • Predators (AMBLYTECH, AMBLYTECH C, HYPOTECH, MONTECH, PHYTOTECH)
  • Parasitoids (DIGLYTECH, ENCARTECH)
  • Entomopathogenic Nematodes (NEMATECH S, NEMATECH H, SLUGTECH)
  • Entomopathogenic Fungi (BEAUVITECH, LECATECH)
  • Nematophagous Fungi (MYTECH)
  • Beneficial Soil Fungi and Bacteria (TRICHOTECH, BACTECH)
  • Viruses (HELITEC)

Chemical Control

Involves the intelligent use of insecticidal soaps, insect growth regulators, botanicals and selective less toxic pesticides. Synthetic chemical pesticides are used only when needed and play more of a supportive role, assisting in more effective, long-term management of pest populations. Examples include:

  • Botanical extracts (NEMGUARD, SULFATECH)
  • Soaps (PROTEC K)

Case Study:

Dudutech at Flamingo Horticulture

Dudutech, before joining Bioline Agrosciences in 2021, epitomised the Flamingo ethic of long-term sustainability and their committment to producing products that contribute positively to the health and wellbeing of society. Supplying 17 different indigenous biological control products into the Flamingo farms, Dudutech helped instil a culture of low pesticide farming. By identifying the major causes of pesticide use and designing integrated biological solutions to reduce reliance on these chemicals, Dudutech facilitated a 90% reduction in synthetic pesticide use in roses between 2003 and 2013.

The increase in soil fertility and reduction in pesticide use has brought about other, excellent benefits for horticulture. Spraying with synthetic pesticides stresses plants and reduces photosynthetic activity and plant growth. With fewer sprays in the crops there is an increase in production and quality; bigger, shinier, more disease-resistant leaves, and better post-harvest storage characteristics. Improved soil fertility resulting from a diversity of beneficial organisms and extra organic matter creates a living soil that interacts positively with the plants, increasing root volume, fertiliser and water uptake, and growing a stronger plant that is more productive and resistant to diseases. This reduces reliance on synthetic fertilisers and results in a higher nutrient value product with better storage properties.

Contact us for more information on how to take advantage of our IPM and biocontrol range: