6. Working with nature: exploring the power of biological control for pest management

Episode produced by Lidor Levy, Kaitlyn Magyar, and Sophie Tan. For this episode of Sync Into the Earth, we explore the topic of biological control. Specifically, how it is used, and its relevance in today's world. Biological control has been used for centuries, with one of its most notable applications being Australia's infamous cane toads. Today's practices scarcely resemble that of the cane toad but rather highlight scientific development and the understanding of species interactions. We discuss practices used in the fields of agriculture and invasive species management, with some thoughts on the uncertainties associated with climate change. Within agriculture, biological control is growing in use over pesticides. We chat about a study that examined the use of predatory mites to control strawberry mites that showed both promising results and limitations. Field research identifies difficulties regarding climate variations and the maintenance of introduced control species, while greenhouse applications are less restricted. Invasive species managers have also been especially receptive to biological control applications, with Phragmites and Purple Loosestrife programs showing promising results.