Preface

This book highlights some of the most recent research and practical approaches with respect to emerging pest challenges in agricultural crop and animal husbandry production. The chapters cover the entire spectrum of plant and animal protection science focusing on insect pest control, weed management, herbicide application and food safety, animal pest control, and livestock disease identification. This book can be a useful resource for agricultural and horticultural science students, veterinarians and livestock professionals as well as agronomists and pest control scientists.

In the first section of this book, "Insect Science, Pest Management and Practical Approaches", we demonstrate the role of Integrated Pest Management in the incorporation of biological and behavioral approaches to preserve ecosystems and reduce the use of synthetic chemical pesticides. In addition, we present the use of natural products as an immeasurable source of bioactive insecticidal compounds; the importance of the high rate of diversification of herbivorous insects in agriculture as a consequence of their specialization to distinct host-plants (with a focus on the Orthoptera order), as well as the biological role of pheromones in the chemical communication of insect species. Finally, we analyze methodologies of Mass Spectrometry Imaging (MSI) in the visualization of the composition, abundance, and spatial distribution of molecules in tissues or cells of insects, as well as the role of irrigation and nitrogen fertilization in the biological control of the European Corn Borer, *Ostrinia nubilalis* (*Lepidoptera*: *Crambidae*).

In the second section of this book, "Herbicides: Scientific Background and Food Safety", we mainly focus on the most commonly used analytical methodologies for determining glyphosate and aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) concentrations in various food products, soil, and air. Moreover, we analyze the herbicide resistance status of crops in Brazil with respect to glyphosate resistance and we present practical methodologies for herbicide application, dosing, and safety.

Finally, in the third section of this book, "Animal Pests and Diseases", the reader will find information on the diagnosis and pathoanatomy of Pasteurellosis in animals as well as the identification of ticks in dogs with Ehrlichiosis.

Pests, weeds, and diseases are the more destructive factors in agricultural crop and animal husbandry production, causing tremendous economic losses, influencing food production, and downgrading final products. Scientific progress and technological advances in pest and weed management and animal disease prevention constitute the most efficient weapons of the modern world in the fight against poverty and hunger.

This research is co-financed by Greece and the European Union (European Social Fund- ESF) through the Operational Programme «Human Resources Development, Education and Lifelong Learning» in the context of the project "Reinforcement of Postdoctoral Researchers - 2nd Cycle" (MIS-5033021), implemented by the State Scholarships Foundation (IKY).

**Dimitrios Kontogiannatos**

School of Plant Sciences, Department of Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Agricultural University of Athens

School of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Department of Crop Science, Laboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, Agricultural University of Athens

> NCSR "Demokritos", Institute of Biosciences and Applications, Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology, Aghia Paraskevi, Athens, Greece

> > CEO "PROPEST FHG", Argyroupolis, Attica, Greece

**Anna Kourti** Agricultural University of Athens, Greece

**Kassio Ferreira Mendes** Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Brazil

**1**

Section 1

Insect Science, Pest

Management and Practical

Approaches

Section 1

Insect Science, Pest Management and Practical Approaches

**3**

**Chapter 1**

**Abstract**

control measures

**1. Introduction**

Integrated Pest Management:

Integrated pest management is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach for pest management. It plays an important role in sustainable agriculture and quality of food production by providing maximum economic yield to the farmer and also improving human health and environment. Recent developments in agricultural technology, modern communication tools, changing consumer trends, increased awareness for sustainably produced food systems, and globalization of trade and travel, have necessitated the need for the IPM paradigm as appropriate for modern times. Although the concept of integrated pest management originated almost 60 years ago, currently integrated pest management is a robust paradigm of pest control around the globe. This chapter reviews the history of integrated pest management, its main principles, and components of integrated pest management such as host plant resistance, cultural control, behavioral control, mechanical/

**Keywords:** pest management, global losses, sustainable agriculture, new model,

One of the major challenges of the twenty-first century is to provide food for its ever-growing population. It has pushed food production systems to maximum efficiency and the demand requires farmers to produce more crops on existing farmland that needs continuous improvement of agricultural technologies to minimize crop losses. Although chemical pesticides have played a vital role in providing an abundant and inexpensive food source [1], its persistent overuse has resulted in a number of adverse environmental impacts such as pesticide resistance, resurgence of insect pests, pesticide poisoning, environmental toxicity, elimination of predator species, negative outcomes for other nontarget organisms, disruption in the food web, accumulation of toxins in the food webs, and reduced crop yields [2, 3]. Thus, to feed the future generations and to meet increasing demand for wide spectrum of high-quality fresh products without degrading the resources, strategy must be economically viable and ecologically sustainable. Integrated pest management (IPM) strategy being environmentally friendly pest management is increasingly being adopted in both developed and developing countries for adequate safe and quality food production, improves farmer's liveli-

A Paradigm for Modern Age

*Tamanreet Kaur and Mandeep Kaur*

physical control, biological control, and chemical control.

hood and conserves nonrenewable resources.
