https://www.fao.org/pest-and-pesticide-management/ipm/integrated-pest-management/en/

Periodically monitoring populations of phytophagous and beneficial insects constitutes the basic foundation of Integrated Pest Management (IPM). It will depend on those in charge of the application of the program, the decision of what corrective measures will be used for the regulation of any particular phytophagous insect. Therefore, the sustainability of the productive system will depend on how harmful the measures adopted by those responsible for the program may be, in terms of the biological balance and the regulation of phytophages that reach pest status.

IPM and non-chemical methods of pests management including biological control play an essential role in sustainable agriculture and have less or no impact on the environment and human beings in the following ways

1). Control the target pest and cause no or little harm to the beneficial insects or their performance in an agroecosystem.

2). improving conditions for the growth of plants

3). Safeguard the environment by producing little or causing no pollution/contamination of the environment or health hazard.

4). No disruption of the ecosystem as there is balance in the ecosystem.

5). Low-cost method of pest control

6). Self-sustaining control.

7). Problem of insect resistance not develop

8) No secondary pest outbreak occurs

Chemical pesticides tend to develop resistance and resurgence amongst the pests and pathogens. IPM use on the other hand prevents this because of their various mode of actions. Furthermore, these techniques are far more eco friendly and non toxic to the entire ecosystem making them a better alternative for sustainable agriculture