Michael Day and Arne Witt have just published ‘Weed biological control: Challenges and opportunities’ in the first edition of a new journal, Journal of Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society. Their paper traces the history of weed biological control and points to the many successes.
Despite these successes, many countries are still reluctant to implement weed biological control. Some countries with successes in the past are now reluctant to implement further biological control because of perceived risk or ineffectiveness.
Unfounded and unscientific statements often justify this approach. As a result, landowners continue to purchase and apply herbicides, when an integrated approach including biological control could reduce management costs and enhance control.
There is now a challenge to educate all stakeholders in the safety and cost-effectiveness of weed biological control because of the opportunities to introduce highly specific and very effective biological control agents from countries where they are being utilized successfully into other countries where the target weed remains problematic.
Read more in the full paper – details below.
Additional information
Full paper reference
Day, M.D. and Witt, A.B.R. 2019. Weed biological control: Challenges and opportunities. Weeds – Journal of Asian-Pacific Weed Science Society 1: 34-44.
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