Beyond IPM

The negative impact pesticide use has on wildlife and the environment in general is well documented and the need to challenge Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as supposedly being the best practice approach for the use of pesticides is a much wider issue that should be explored. Beyond IPM is an integral part of Sustainable Turf Management and would now be considered a more appropriate best practice approach.

Looking beyond short-term benefits and limitations of IPM by more actively engaging with a systematic and holistic approach which delivers a sustainable outcome to turf surface management is the natural step on from IPM. With adequate controls, the direct risk to human health from pesticide use is typically very low, however, the indirect risk may be higher, whilst the risk to wildlife is relatively high.

The elimination of pesticides, in practice, might be an unachievable goal if current expectations are not challenged, although a focus on planned and documented maximum minimisation should at least be an active initial goal.