What is the overall goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

The overall goal of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to reduce pest impacts to an acceptable level. This approach recognizes that completely eliminating all pests is not feasible or environmentally sustainable. Instead, IPM focuses on balancing pest control methods with ecological health and economic viability.

IPM employs a combination of strategies—including biological control, habitat manipulation, cultural practices, and chemical interventions—targeted at managing pest populations rather than eradicating them entirely. This proactive strategy ensures that pest management is effective while minimizing risks to human health, beneficial organisms, and the environment. The aim is to maintain pest populations below damaging levels, thus allowing for a sustainable approach to pest control that takes into account the complexities of ecosystems and the need for biodiversity.