Is Integrated Pest Management [IPM] Research fading out? I am taking refuge under AI to know!

 

        

Courtesy: Univ of Central Florida, USA

As a member of QRT of the ICAR-National Research Centre for Integrated Pest Management [NCIPM], New Delhi, I had a good opportunity to understand implementation of IPM in various crops at the ground level undertaken in late 2010 and early 2020s. Most of these IPM projects were implemented by the ICAR-NCIPM in collaboration with the local institutions, with a fair amount of local agronomic practices and varying degree of biological as well as chemical inputs. The farmers seemed to be enthusiastic, as they were provided with inputs ex-gratis by the ICAR-NCIPM and local farm institutions. The degree of success ranged depending upon the crop and level of involvement. And this was reflected in the reduced use of synthetic pesticides, and yield advantage or cost-benefit ratios over the conventional crop protection practices involving pesticides. One merit that received less attention was pesticide-free farm produce which is safe to consume, and relatively safe farm environment. IPM-certified farm produce that could be labelled as such and marketed remained a dream, probably because unlike organic food that invokes sentiments of safety, IPM-certification is complex requiring inspection of farm as well as evaluation of pesticide residues in farm produce. Here is my take in detail. https://govindgujar.blogspot.com/2025/01/ipm-certified-food-produce.html.

IPM is a knowledge-intensive practice that integrates various tactics of pest management in the context of environmental, social and agronomic considerations. Often, this needs a good database at local level, especially real-time monitoring of various agroecological factors as well of pests and their damage potential to take short-term and long-term measures to bring out pest population below the economic thresholds and ensuring the consequential benefits.

IPM has been in practice since 1960s although it was conceptualized earlier. It has undergone changes in its implementation, with more emphasis on area-wide ecological approaches as well as biological inputs. However, IPM as a practice did not catch up with the expectations. The Government of India implemented it on a large scale, with as many as 36 Central IPM Centres in 28 states and two Union territories, with an umbrella institution, National Institute of Plant Health Management at Hyderabad under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare. The Central IPM Centres served to train the staff as well as mass-multiply biological control agents. The mass production of arthropod-based biocontrol agents remained a constraint, while relative successes were obtained with microbial pesticides which were selective and environment-sensitive. At present, about 3-5% of crop area is considered to be under IPM which translates to 4-7 million hectares in the country. Only few crops are under IPM umbrella in some regions. And this appears to be growth story of IPM over the past five decades, considering time when IPM formed an integral part of Agricultural policy in mid-1970s.

IPM research still holds priority in most agricultural institutions like state universities as well as ICAR institutions. Most are related to the development of IPM modules in various crops with relative emphasis on biological control agents and biopesticides vis-à-vis others. Of late, ecological engineering as well as home-grown biologicals are gaining importance, yet in a limited way. Apart from semantics, these have not impacted pest management positively and significantly. Albeit, agro-ecosystem has played an important role in crop production and has been in practice (I mean, engineered) since ages.

So, question that arises, Is IPM fading out at the ground level? Are the farmers losing faith in IPM as more effective synthetic pesticides compete? I talked about this aspect earlier too. https://govindgujar.blogspot.com/2022/08/is-ipm-sustainable-in-indian-farming.html

One disruptive technology, genetic engineering in mid-1990s led to the development of genetically modified crops which contributed significantly to IPM. Insect protective GM cotton commercialized in 2002 in India was thus a success story of IPM. Bt toxin in GM cotton provided host crop resistance to bollworms, decreased use of synthetic pesticides and allowed biological control agents to revive in the fields of cotton where treadmill of pesticide use existed earlier as the target bollworms had developed resistance. It also helped in enhancing environmental and human safety. This approach points out to the fact that an effective and safe product development is far more important as it may lead to successful wholesome IPM implementation per se. Will such success stories repeat in future?

I therefore depended for answer on the artificial intelligence which is pervading these days. I asked five AI apps to list three major advances in crop protection in the last decade. I expected IPM to be one of them, it being an ever-green topic of study and discussion in our farm institutions. It was not to be so. Here are three areas that might change our own priorities of research in crop protection.

ChatGPT: 1. Biological control, 2. CRISPER-Genetic engg 3. Precision Ag-Digital tec

Gemini: 1 Biocontrol, 2. Precision Ag-Digital tec, 3. Dev of targeted & safer pesticides

Perplexity: 1. Biological & eco-friendly alternatives, 2. Precision Ag-Digital tec, 3. Low use-rate ai pesticides [no mention of Genetic engg

Deepseek: 1. RNAi tec, 2. Precision-Ag-Digital tec, 3. Biological control agents

Grok 3 beta: 1. Integration of ML and AI, 2. RNAi products and 3. Biological products

While advances in biological or biopesticide development are in offing, there is a long way to go. Future lies in digital as well as biotechnological areas. We have barely scratched these areas to deliver effective precise solutions. One single ground-breaking advancement using these new technologies might provide us with a lead for IPM to sustain for a long time.