Concept 2: Pest Management as a Natural Hazard

In order to get a more realistic picture of the context of pests and the way in which farmers attempt to manage them, we need to realise that pests and their management arise out of the interaction between natural and human use systems.

Consequently, changes in either of these systems can produce a change in pest status or affect the feasibility or desirability of specific pest management options. Thus, developments of more favourable conditions for pests (e.g. through global warming) or mutations that result in the development of pesticide resistance are changes in the natural system that affects pest status and management. Changes in market preferences, in technology (e.g. GM rice) or in pesticide policy are changes in the human use system that also changes pest status and management.