Nature-based solutions and indigenous knowledge for sustainable biological control

Biological control is not easily available to all farmers, particularly those with limited technical or financial resources. Yet, traditional communities have long managed insect pests using locally adapted, nature-based methods. Many of these practices, rooted in indigenous knowledge, are environmentally sustainable, culturally appropriate, and resilient to local conditions. This knowledge has played an important role in shaping what is now known as Integrated Pest Management (IPM). This review synthesizes evidence on traditional biocontrol strategies, including natural compounds from plants, emphasizing the mechanisms of plant-mediated defenses, associational resistance, plant-soil feedback, and the conservation of natural enemies and pollinators to support integrated pest and pollinator management. By integrating centuries of empirical knowledge with contemporary ecological insights, these strategies demonstrate effective pest suppression, promote agroecosystem resilience, and support sustainable productivity. Understanding the ecological interactions in agricultural systems and biological mechanisms underlying traditional strategies highlights the potential of combining time-tested practices with modern science to develop context-specific, nature-based solutions for sustainable agriculture and IPM.