Biotechnology and Integrated Pest Management

Proponents of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) advocate its use to reduce or eliminate the use of chemical pesticides in agriculture, since excessive pesticide use may be a threat to both human health and the environment. Proponents of biotechnology beileve that the use of novel products, such as transgenic plants with insect resistance, will reduce the need for chemical pesticides. However, the use of such novel products within IPM systems may also create potential risks. This volume reviews such issues and discusses the potential benefits of and constraints to the applications of biotechnology in IPM systems, especially in developing countries. It also considers the related policy issues confronting decision-makers in national agricultural research systems and international development agencies. The text consists of revised versions of papers presented at a conference hosted by the Rockefeller Foundation and held in Bellagio, Italy in October 1993.