Sustainable use and conservation of microbial and invertebrate biological control agents and microbial biostimulants

Book excerpt: Increasing concerns about the impact of pesticide use on biodiversity and human health, and increasing demand for products from biodiversity-friendly production systems, including organic systems, have led to increasing interest in alternative methods of pest control, including the use of biological control agents. This paper presents an overview of the current status of BCAs and biostimulants (focusing only on micro-organisms and invertebrates) and their management, needs and challenge in termsof improving their management and potential opportunities for the Commission and its Members to contribute to efforts to address these needs and challenges. The scope covers all the sectors of agriculture as defined by FAO, i.e. crop and livestock production, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.