Advances in Integrated Pest Management Strategies for Sustainable Crop Protection: A Review

Abstract

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has emerged as a sustainable and ecologically sound approach for crop protection in response to increasing concerns regarding pesticide resistance, environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and food safety. Conventional dependence on synthetic pesticides has resulted in adverse impacts on non-target organisms, soil and water contamination, and the development of resistant pest populations, creating the need for integrated and environmentally compatible pest management strategies. This review highlights recent advances in IPM strategies and their role in sustainable agricultural production systems. Major components of IPM, including cultural, biological, mechanical, physical, chemical, biotechnological, and digital approaches, are critically examined. Cultural practices such as crop rotation, intercropping, resistant cultivars, and conservation agriculture contribute significantly to pest suppression and agroecosystem stability. Biological control using predators, parasitoids, microbial biopesticides, and habitat manipulation reduces pesticide dependency and enhances ecological resilience. Mechanical and physical methods, including trapping, barriers, solarisation, and temperature-based treatments, provide eco-friendly alternatives for pest suppression. Advances in safer pesticide formulations, resistance management strategies, and precision-based chemical application strengthen the efficiency of chemical control within IPM frameworks. Emerging biotechnological innovations such as Bt crops, RNA interference, CRISPR/Cas gene editing, and molecular diagnostics offer targeted and sustainable pest management solutions. Digital agriculture technologies including artificial intelligence, drones, remote sensing, IoT-based monitoring systems, and predictive forecasting models have transformed pest surveillance and decision-making processes. Ecological engineering and agroecological approaches emphasising biodiversity conservation, pollinator protection, and ecosystem services further improve the sustainability of pest management systems. Despite substantial progress, challenges related to farmer awareness, high implementation costs, biosafety concerns, climate change, and regulatory limitations continue to affect widespread adoption of IPM practices.