Rethinking biological pest control in greenhouses without pesticides

Abstract: The greenhouse sector’s ambition to grow crops without the use of chemical
pesticides presents significant challenges in controlling multiple pest species. In some cases,
this has led to the overuse of non-selective botanical products, which is not sustainable in the
long term. Here, we present our vision on the future requirements for designing and developing resilient cropping systems based on natural enemies, using an ecosystem-based approach. The core principle of this approach is to enhance system resilience by increasing the diversity of established natural enemy populations, as well as associated plant species, habitats, and food sources.