Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to controlling pests that combines biological, cultural, mechanical, and chemical methods to minimize environmental impact and enhance agricultural productivity.

Biological Controls: IPM utilizes natural predators, parasites, and pathogens to manage pest populations. Introducing beneficial insects, like ladybugs to control aphids, reduces the need for chemical pesticides, promoting a balanced ecosystem.

Cultural Practices: Crop rotation, intercropping, and selecting pest-resistant crop varieties can disrupt pest life cycles and reduce infestations. These practices maintain soil health and biodiversity, crucial for sustainable farming.

Mechanical and Physical Controls: Techniques such as traps, barriers, and manual removal of pests help control populations without harming the environment. These methods are often labor-intensive but reduce reliance on chemicals.

Chemical Controls: When necessary, IPM advocates for the judicious use of pesticides, selecting those with minimal environmental impact and applying them in targeted ways. This approach reduces pesticide resistance and protects non-target organisms, including beneficial insects.