Concept 3: Economic concepts

The objectives of IPM are achieved through the allocation of resources to improve efficiency, substitution, and system redesign.  Whatever the objectives of IPM (e.g. whether to be more profitable, more sustainable or to reduce reliance on pesticides) the achievement of these objectives has to be achieved in one or more of three ways: through –

• Improving the efficiency of current measures - e.g. by the use of monitoring techniques to ensure that pesticides are only used when necessary

• Substitution - e.g. by replacing pesticides with biocontrol, bio-pesticides, or transgenic varieties

• System redesign - e.g. by adopting crop rotation practices, through area-wide management schemes or by alternating direct seeding with transplanting.