Biological Pest Control Versus Pesticides
David Pimentel

Pests (insects, diseases, and weeds) destroy about 37% of potential crop production in the United States each year, and, after harvesting an additional 10% of crops are lost to pests. To attempt to prevent these losses, increasing amounts of increasingly potent pesticides are being used. Although pesticides help control some pests, they are causing serious problems for human health and the environment. For example, pesticides while killing pests, also kill beneficial natural enemies of pests; they pollute streams and soils; and are associated with human illness and deaths. Pesticide residues are found in most of the food we eat.

In this exploration, we will address the following questions: What can be done to maintain crop yields while making our food safe and protecting the environment? Do we need to use so much pesticide? Is the cost of the “perfect apple” worth the price? Why are governments like that of Sweden, Denmark, The Netherlands, Indonesia, and Province of Ontario reducing pesticide use by 50%? What biological controls can be employed to substitute for pesticides?