Previously I took an agriculture and farming course that was concentrated on use integrated pest management (IPM) strategies rather than conventional pesticide approach to sustainable farming practices. This area of study is relatively modern, especially compared to the widespread use of pesticides as a management and mitigation strategy for healthy crop growth. What is interesting is that farmers are highly reliant on just using pesticides to solve a problem, rather than adapting and using IPM strategies. We already know that there are drastic effects that pesticides pose to the environment, and in the long term they may also cause crop damage. This means that IPM is a valuable tool that can mitigate the use of pesticides, and help protect our planet better. I believe that it is up to us a scientists and researchers to provide these modern solutions to the agriculture industry, to promote a more sustainable farming practice. Those of you in government consulting positions with these industries have to modernize and promote these new practices, because there really only are benefits to adopting this strategy.
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Hi Kevin, it was so interesting to read your post about integrated past management strategies. I think that is a very effective approach.
Hi Kevin, I wasn't really familiar with IPM and your post was really eye-opening.
I don't know much about IPM but I think if there are ways out there to not use pesticides then pesticides should not be allowed since its unnecessary hard to the environment. I think this would be a very good step in the right direction since its a change that could be made soon.
Kevin I'm glad to have a fuller understanding of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies through you, which I think are such that they do not affect biodiversity and protect natural wildlife at the same time. I think there are many elements of traditional farming knowledge that need to be enriched with scientific knowledge, but I was wondering what are the issues facing the expansion of IPM strategies in developing countries?
Hello Kevin, I've never heard of IPM strategies but it's upsetting to hear that there are better practices not being taken just because we are used to our conventional practices of using pesticide. Perhaps if those in government consulting positions do not make the change, protests involving the farmers may be an option but hopefully changes can be made without any protests.
Hi Kevin, it is great that you relate what you have learned previously to our class. I think it is urgent to change the mind and behavior of people to adopt more sustainable farming strategies. I totally agree with your idea that scientists and government officials are at the center of implementing the strategy. Still, it is also crucial to change cultural norms that influence individual behaviors.
Hey Kevin! Thanks for this fascinating read. I've never heard of IPM strategies before, and you raised some great points about its benefits versus conventional and harmful pesticide use. What do you think personally are the main barriers holding back IPM from becoming more mainstream among the farming community?
Hi Kevin! I also like others, haven’t heard of IPM before. Is it a new management approach? What does it specifically entail compared to using pesticides? Is it not used as commonly because of the costs? Or is it just not widely known? I agree that the government needs to put more emphasis to enforce policies to help with crop damage and also for the health of humans. Do you have any suggestions how the government can input these practices widely?
Hi Kevin thanks for sharing about IPM. It's my first time hearing it but it sounds like a very practical approach to sustainable farming. It is sad that the farmers are commonly dependent on the pesticides and I also doubt how many of the farmers have heard of IPM before. I do hope the government can provide the farmers with more education and access to IPM so they can gradually transfer from the pesticides to it when solving a problem.
Hi Kevin,
I really enjoyed your explanation of IPM, never heard of it before! I didn't know that this was an option for farmers and agree that more attention needs to be raised. It would also be great if there could be funding/subsidies granted so it would be easier for more farmers to adopt this amazing practice!
Hi Kevin! I agree with you that the government needs to promote more sustainable practices to encourage farmers to adapt to them - especially if they're so reliant, I think it would take some influence from the government and funding to prod them into more sustainable practices!
I love your opinion about IPM!
I think farmers are highly dependent on pesticides because they had no choice but to do so. The only thing farmers need and want to think is their 'Income', and there are only two main factors that can affect their 'Income', one is pest infestation and the other is weather. Nothing changes the weather, therefore farmers had to do everything they can to kill the 'Bugs', and the only thing they were offered was pesticides...
Good thing is now we have IPM!!! I wish this could be used in a large scale ASAP!!!
I agree with you and you bring new ideas towards the food topic. Maybe farmers don't know about the IPM method to control pests. the government may have some lectures to educate farmers about the IPM. If the IPM is more expensive, the government may grant some subsidies to farmers.
I really like this point! I think the lack of flexibility really hurts our farming practices because it could lead to a more sustainable future. I think it's interesting, despite the benefits of using biological invasions, farmers still don't utilize that methodology because of rigidity. I think pesticide are a good example of this mindset and issue.