Why Do Fresh Produce Growers Need an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program?
What Is Integrated Pest Management?
Integrated Pest Management, otherwise known as IPM, is a science-based decision-making process that uses biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools, often combined, to manage pest pressure. IPM aims to control pest populations while maintaining yield and crop quality and minimizing negative economic, health, and environmental impacts. These principles are incorporated into an IPM program, outlining how pest populations will be tracked and when and what actions will be taken to control them.
Why Do Fresh Produce Growers Need an Integrated Pest Management Program?
In the produce industry, retailers such as Walmart, Kroger, and Whole Foods are beginning to require produce suppliers to implement IPM practices in their operations.
Walmart was the first U.S. food retailer to adopt a timebound commitment to expand ecological farming methods in its supply chain and is requiring its suppliers to adopt these practices and become third-party certified by 2025. Kroger has adopted a similar policy requiring large-sized growers to achieve third-party certification by 2028 and small growers to become certified by 2030.
As more retailers globally begin to follow suit, it will be important for growers to have a robust IPM program in place and become certified. By doing so, growers can be at the forefront of these efforts and remain competitive in a crowded marketplace rather than being at a competitive disadvantage and needing to catch up down the line.
What Does an Integrated Pest Management Program Look Like?
IPM programs are a set of management decisions based on action thresholds to prevent and control pests. An IPM Program includes an IPM Management Plan outlining practices the grower can implement to manage pest pressure. An IPM program must also include documentation of pest populations and details around IPM practices. Routine monitoring, identification, and tracking of pests are used to determine what species of pests are present and at what population density warrants intervention.
Another large component of IPM programs is the use of non-chemical intervention (biological, cultural, and/or physical) to manage pest pressure. An example of cultural control of pests is the planting of varieties that have demonstrated resistance to pests of concern; biological control may involve the release of a natural enemy of the pest; physical control would be a barrier preventing the pest from having access to the crop.
Chemical intervention can be used in IPM programs when other intervention methods cannot control their populations. When chemical intervention is chosen, it is important to prioritize the use of low-risk products, stick to label application recommendations, and track pesticide applications diligently.
Third-Party Certifications for Integrated Pest Management
Retailers are requiring their suppliers to adopt IPM practices and verify them through a third-party certification. Measure to Improve has compiled a list of certifications that comply with retailers’ requests and can work with growers to identify the certification that is right for their organization. As more retailers adopt IPM requirements, obtaining certification will become a cost of doing business.
How to Get Started and Stay Ahead
Interested in taking a proactive approach but unsure how to get started? Reach out to Measure to Improve! We are the fresh produce industry’s go-to sustainability experts, with an agronomist and licensed Pest Control Advisor on staff ready to provide support. We keep our pulse on the certification landscape and can work with you to determine what sustainability certification makes the most sense for your organization and guide you through the certification process. The certification world can be hard to navigate, but Measure to Improve is here to help.
