b'GIANT VIEWSREVITALIZING IPMOLD PRINCIPLESADDRESS NEW CHALLENGESTHE REVITALIZATION OF integrated pest management (IPM)many target areas. It can interrupt principles through contemporary sustainable agriculturepest lifecycles, reducing the need for initiatives is an opportunity to diversify and advance pestintervention, optimizing chemical control strategies.applications and limiting environmen-Through innovation, the industry has deliveredtal impact. increasing yields and continued to feed an ever-growingA practice as basic as crop rotation population, but challenges are evolving. The limits onwith known potential benefits takes land available for cultivation are being reached while atcareful consideration to implement in the same time over-reliance on some crop protection toolsa way that is beneficial to overall farm has led to resistance or regulation that may limit futuremanagement and the environment utility.while remaining profitable. Bryan Ulmer, There is increasing emphasis on sustainable practices,In practice, IPM is a continuum; Syngenta Globalprotecting biodiversity, minimizing environmental impact,programs are developed over time Technical Lead and regenerating soils while minimizing losses to pests,with experience, and although the preserving yield gains, and expanding available pest man- principles remain the same, each farm agement optionsall while improving profitability andrequires a unique approach. quality of life for farmers.Continued advancements in crop The principles of IPM were developed decades ago,(and pest) genomics with develop-originally focused on insect management and insecticidements in data collection and analytics stewardship. Today, IPM principles are being appliedsupports breeding technologies that across all disciplines of farm-pest management to addresspromise to deliver improved genetic these evolving challenges.pest tolerance, faster and more effi-IPM is an holistic approach that considers all farmingciently. In recent years there has been practices to discourage the development of economicallysignificant investment in biologicals damaging pest populations, managing pests as opposedresearch which is resulting in more to eliminating them after a problem has occurred. Whencost-effective, efficacious and scalable intervention is required, all control alternatives are con- products. sidered with regard to efficacy and minimizing risk toDigital agriculture and rapid human health and the environment.advancements in data management The principles and management strategies underlyingand crop imagery will also support IPM programs are shared with many of the more recentIPM. Modeling and forecasting to sustainability initiatives. Resistance management programspredict pest infestations based on to preserve crop protection solutions (genetic traits andenvironmental conditions and crop chemical controls) are essentially IPM, diversifying man- development will enable more precise agement tactics to prevent over-reliance on individual tools.and effective timing for controls. Another example is regenerative agriculturefocusedInnovation in precision pest manage-on soil health and biodiversity, looking to practices suchment will bring benefits across all as cover crops, rotational diversity, and the preservationaspects of sustainable production.of beneficial organisms to reach desired outcomes. An underlying principle of IPM The concept of IPM and the synergies with otheris implementing a diversity of pest sustainability initiatives are largely apparent, but making itmanagement tactics to enable the happen can be more complicated. Diversifying crop rota- most effective and least harmful pest tions is a good example. The need for new equipment,control programs. Implementing more or lack of infrastructure and marketing opportunities, andiverse programs helps to maintain absence of local agronomic expertise, local availabilitythe effectiveness and availability of of quality seed or specialty inputs can be impediments.current tools while adopting new Of course, commodity and input prices will also play asolutions and innovations that will significant role in crop selection.support and strengthen IPM strategies Increasing rotational diversity can positively impactof the future. 48GERMINATION.CAJANUARY 2023'