Last month Wild Farm Alliance partnered with EcoFarm to co-host a Pre-Conference on Sustainable Pest Management (SPM). This event was convened by leading voices in agroecology, integrated pest management (IPM), environmental policy, and agribusiness. Through expert-led discussions, the event highlighted sustainable, diversified farming practices that reduce reliance on chemicals and enhance ecological health.

Dr. Miguel Altieiri explored the dynamic relationship between plant diversity, soil biology and fertility in promoting plant health, enhancing biological pest control, and suppressing pests through plant-microbe interactions. Dr. Hans Rudolf Herren highlighted the shift from industrial agriculture to multifunctional, regenerative systems, emphasizing adaptive ecosystem management. Dr. William Snyder discussed how diversified farm habitats enhance natural pest suppression, while Dr. Margaret Lloyd and agronomist Gerald Davis focused on organic nitrogen management, disease-suppressive soils, and crop rotation to harness ecosystem services for pest control.

Speakers also dove into field-based pest management techniques, from beneficial insect habitats and cover crops to Diamondback Moth control, with insights from Kim Horton and Dr. Dylan Beal. Dr. Matt Grieshop and Gina Bella Colfer evaluated the strengths and weaknesses of organic biocontrol products, while we heard from industry experts on automated technology for sustainable weed control. Dr. David Headrick and Jessica Vaughan closed with a discussion on organic scouting and threshold-setting, emphasizing whole-farm scouting as a key tool for informed pest management decisions.