Ontario Pest Management Conference

Annual conference featuring research on all aspects of pest management associated with plant, animal and human health

What is Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

Integrated pest management, or IPM, is a process you can use to solve pest problems while minimizing risks to people and the environment. IPM can be used to manage all kinds of pests anywhere—in urban, agricultural, and natural areas. Integrating biological, physical/mechanical, cultural and chemical control strategies, adverse effects of pesticides are minimized and economic returns are maintained.

Biological Control

Uses beneficial organisms - predators, parasites, pathogens or competitors - to help suppress pest populations.

Physical Control

Kills pest directly or prevents introduction or establishment, including mulching, barriers (netting, fencing), trapping.

Cultural Control

Uses tools that make environment less favourable for pest establishment, reproduction, dispersal and/or survival such as crop rotation, resistant cultivars, elimination of alternative hosts, pruning and water management.