Nature-based solutions and indigenous knowledge for sustainable biological control

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Ecology
• Ethnobotany

Background:

• Biological control methods are often inaccessible to farmers with limited resources.
• Traditional communities possess extensive indigenous knowledge of sustainable, nature-based pest management.
• This traditional knowledge forms a foundation for modern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize evidence on traditional biocontrol strategies.
• To emphasize the mechanisms behind plant-mediated defenses and ecological interactions.
• To support Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM) by integrating traditional knowledge with contemporary ecological insights.

Main Methods:

• Literature review synthesizing evidence on traditional biocontrol strategies.
• Emphasis on mechanisms: plant-mediated defenses, associational resistance, plant-soil feedback.
• Focus on conservation of natural enemies and pollinators within agroecosystems.

Main Results:

• Traditional strategies demonstrate effective pest suppression and agroecosystem resilience.
• Plant compounds, ecological interactions, and natural enemy conservation are key mechanisms.
• Integration of empirical knowledge with ecological insights enhances sustainable productivity.

Conclusions:

• Traditional biocontrol offers sustainable, resilient, and culturally appropriate solutions.
• Combining indigenous knowledge with modern science is crucial for developing effective IPM and IPPM.
• Nature-based solutions derived from traditional practices support sustainable agriculture.