Challenges and opportunities for the utilization of biological control agents against regulated pests of protected crops in the EPPO region

Abstract: Biological control is a pest management method that can offer an alternative to
chemical pesticides. With a proven safety record, it can be used against indigenous and nonindigenous pests within protected conditions or in open field cropping systems. The European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) is an international organization responsible for cooperation and harmonization in plant protection within the European and Mediterranean region. EPPO develops Standards on the safe use of biological control with the aim to harmonise approaches for the introduction of BCAs across the region and to promote increased utilization of biological control against regulated pests. This presentation will discuss these Standards and also note other challenges and opportunities in the utilization of biological control against regulated pests of protected crops.