Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 2 |
| Journal | Insects |
| Volume | 9 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Early online date | 5 Jan 2018 |
| Publication status | Published - Mar 2018 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Abstract
Transforming modern agriculture towards both higher yields and greater sustainability is critical for preserving biodiversity in an increasingly populous and variable world. However, the intensity of agricultural practices varies strongly between crop systems. Given limited research capacity, it is crucial to focus efforts to increase sustainability in the crop systems that need it most. In this study, we investigate the match (or mismatch) between the intensity of pesticide use and the availability of knowledge on the ecosystem service of natural pest control across various crop systems. Using a systematic literature search on pest control and publicly available pesticide data, we find that pest control literature is not more abundant in crops where insecticide input per hectare is highest. Instead, pest control literature is most abundant, with the highest number of studies published, in crops with comparatively low insecticide input per hectare but with high world harvested area. These results suggest that a major increase of interest in agroecological research towards crops with high insecticide input, particularly cotton and horticultural crops such as citrus and high value-added vegetables, would help meet knowledge needs for a timely ecointensification of agriculture.
Keywords
- Agricultural intensity, Agroecology, Biological pest control, Crop, Ecological intensification, Insecticides, Study system
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Agricultural and Biological Sciences(all)
- Insect Science
Sustainable Development Goals
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In: Insects, Vol. 9, No. 1, 2, 03.2018.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Investigating the (Mis)Match between Natural Pest Control Knowledge and the Intensity of Pesticide Use
AU - Mall, David
AU - Larsen, Ashley E.
AU - Martin, Emily A.
N1 - Funding information: Acknowledgments: We acknowledge helpful comments by reviewers that improved an earlier version of this manuscript. This publication was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the University of Würzburg in the funding program Open Access Publishing.
PY - 2018/3
Y1 - 2018/3
N2 - Transforming modern agriculture towards both higher yields and greater sustainability is critical for preserving biodiversity in an increasingly populous and variable world. However, the intensity of agricultural practices varies strongly between crop systems. Given limited research capacity, it is crucial to focus efforts to increase sustainability in the crop systems that need it most. In this study, we investigate the match (or mismatch) between the intensity of pesticide use and the availability of knowledge on the ecosystem service of natural pest control across various crop systems. Using a systematic literature search on pest control and publicly available pesticide data, we find that pest control literature is not more abundant in crops where insecticide input per hectare is highest. Instead, pest control literature is most abundant, with the highest number of studies published, in crops with comparatively low insecticide input per hectare but with high world harvested area. These results suggest that a major increase of interest in agroecological research towards crops with high insecticide input, particularly cotton and horticultural crops such as citrus and high value-added vegetables, would help meet knowledge needs for a timely ecointensification of agriculture.
AB - Transforming modern agriculture towards both higher yields and greater sustainability is critical for preserving biodiversity in an increasingly populous and variable world. However, the intensity of agricultural practices varies strongly between crop systems. Given limited research capacity, it is crucial to focus efforts to increase sustainability in the crop systems that need it most. In this study, we investigate the match (or mismatch) between the intensity of pesticide use and the availability of knowledge on the ecosystem service of natural pest control across various crop systems. Using a systematic literature search on pest control and publicly available pesticide data, we find that pest control literature is not more abundant in crops where insecticide input per hectare is highest. Instead, pest control literature is most abundant, with the highest number of studies published, in crops with comparatively low insecticide input per hectare but with high world harvested area. These results suggest that a major increase of interest in agroecological research towards crops with high insecticide input, particularly cotton and horticultural crops such as citrus and high value-added vegetables, would help meet knowledge needs for a timely ecointensification of agriculture.
KW - Agricultural intensity
KW - Agroecology
KW - Biological pest control
KW - Crop
KW - Ecological intensification
KW - Insecticides
KW - Study system
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041128091&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/insects9010002
DO - 10.3390/insects9010002
M3 - Article
C2 - 29304005
VL - 9
JO - Insects
JF - Insects
IS - 1
M1 - 2
ER -