Overview
Integrated pest and disease management (IPDM) involves coordinated application of multiple pest management options to sustainably manage pest populations.
- IPDM is most commonly practiced during production, with the use of pest management options being guided by pest monitoring data.
- Evaluating the efficacy of IPDM involves demonstrating that the commercial application of the suite of pest management practices in the IPDM took kit will reduce pest populations to the required level at the required times.
- IPDM is most often used during production. It may be considered when conducting a pest risk assessment. It may also be proposed as a phytosanitary measure provided consistent pest control can be demonstrated.
- Assurance can be achieved through maintenance and audit of pest management records.
Evidence to support efficacy
Evidence is required to demonstrate that IPDM will result in the required reduction in pest abundance, and therefore infestation rates, at times when the commodity is vulnerable. Analysis of this evidence will need to consider how efficacy may be affected by environmental variability, and by differences in how IPDM is applied.
Applying the measure
How it is used
Integrated pest and disease management is often applied in production systems to achieve pest management goals whilst minimising pesticide use. IPDM can also be applied area-wide, in which case it requires coordinated management beyond individual registered sites. Industry-specific best management guides can provide IPDM options under different conditions, such as under high or low pest abundance. This can provide considerable leeway for the producer in terms of what management options are applied, when and where.
When widely applied, IPDM can be considered when conducting a pest risk assessment. Application as a phytosanitary measure is not common as it can be challenging to demonstrate and verify consistent implementation and pest management outcomes.
Use with other measures
Integrated pest and disease management combines multiple other pest management measures. It can also be combined with other measures aimed at minimising exposure to pests during production such as Low Pest Prevalence Sites (LPPS) or an Area of Low Pest Prevalence.
Similar measures
Integrated pest and disease management that utilises pest monitoring is similar to LPPS measures. However, for IPDM, the focus is on guiding pest management whereas for a LPPS measure it is to keep populations under specified pest levels or corrective action and suspension thresholds.
Assurance of correct implementation
Compliance can be assessed through an audit of monitoring and control records (e.g. trap catches and spray diaries) and of pest management processes against an IPDM document that has been approved by the NPPO or relevant authority of the importing jurisdiction.
Area-wide IPDM is typically managed by an overarching “authority” as it most often spans multiple land uses, land ownerships, and jurisdictions.