Insect and Mite Ecology and Integrated Crop Management
Worldwide, insects and mites represent at least 80% of identified species on the planet, with an estimated 85% still to be collected and classified.
Despite heavy use of chemical pesticides, 10-35% of food production is lost due to pest damage, costing $2-7 billion per year (Palumbi, 2001). In addition, the estimated value of insect pollination is $117 billion per year and that of natural biological control (mostly by insects) is over $400 billion per year. Insects also provide ecological services as nutrient recyclers, valued at over $3 trillion per year (Costanza, 1997).
SCRI promotes Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the wider concept of Integrated Crop Management (ICM). This involves several key steps to achieve the needs and requirements of the end users, the consumer, processor, retailers etc. The research at SCRI uses a generic approach to ecological entomology and ICM. In turn, this uses the following scientific approaches:
Much of the ICM research at SCRI has concentrated on potatoes and soft fruit (particularly raspberry and blackcurrant) and has been targeted at the main pests and diseases. The generic expertise and skills developed can readily be applied to other cropping systems. This research is in line with current UK and European promotion of Integrated Farming Methods (IFM).
