10 Trends Shaping the Evolution of Integrated Pest Management
February 17, 2026 Editor’s Note: These insights were compiled from a recent conversation between Brian Sparks, Editor of Greenhouse Grower, and Matthew Krause, PhD, Director, NA Field Solutions – CEA and Nursery at Lallemand Plant Care.
Is It Time to Redefine What IPM Means?
Integrated pest management has evolved to mean so much more than just keeping pests and pathogens out of your greenhouse. It also means monitoring incoming plant material and being more selective with your cuttings or seed suppliers. “The growing conditions for most of our plants just happen to also be ideal environments for pests and diseases,” Krause says. “So we need to focus on what we can control to manage those issues, from cultural management to minimizing plant stress.”
Krause even notes it might be time for a name change, if not a formal one then a refreshed way of looking at IPM. “Growers are moving beyond preventive pest and disease management to proactive management, and there’s an opportunity to redefine what IPM means that goes beyond the standard academic definition.”
The Value of Practically-Applied Research
Cuts to university research funding have made it difficult for some faculty to meet expectations, and that includes authoring peer-reviewed and published research. However, that research can still be extremely valuable for growers, whether or not it’s published in a peer-reviewed publication. “It’s great to have scientific backing, but it’s not always easy to practically apply that research to a commercial greenhouse that operates under several variables,” Krause says. “In fact, the grower may be in the best position to assess research practicality, because they can tie it to everything from sustainability to net profit.”
Why Recordkeeping Is Critical …
Perhaps the biggest key to a successful IPM program is recordkeeping, and it’s especially helpful for small to midsize growers who often have to wear many hats. “The advice I tend to give to these growers is to avoid thinking they have to completely change their pest control strategies as they incorporate biocontrols,” Krause says. “Instead, focus on the weakest links in your program, or which tools are the least effective. Those are what you would want to replace first.”
… And Why Recordkeeping Is Easier Than Ever …
The good news, Krause says, is that there are several available tools that make recordkeeping easier than ever, from environmental monitoring and management to irrigation control systems in greenhouses for documenting physical conditions of a crop. In fact, “the grower’s best tool is their smartphone, because it has a camera and a notes feature which they can use to immediately record anything remarkable or out of the ordinary.
… And Why Recordkeeping Improves Training
Good recordkeeping also helps when new people join your team, Krause says. “A new grower should be able to easily pick up where their predecessor left off. They may want to add in some go-to products they’re familiar with, and good records allow them to do so without having to reinvent the IPM wheel for that operation.”
Weighing the Benefits of Biologicals
Growers will often cite cost as one of their main deterrents to shifting to a biologically based pest and disease management program. However, there are other financial factors to consider beyond the sticker price. “If I have a biological product that I can use early in the season as a preventative tool, it allows me to postpone the use of more traditional chemistries until I really need them, which also helps avoid resistance issues,” Krause says.
There are benefits during shipping as well. “Biologicals tend to have very low restricted entry intervals, which is important because any day lost close to shipping can negatively impact the grower’s productivity, profitability and reputation as a supplier,” Krause says. “You can’t think of everything in a vacuum. You have to think about how you can maximize compatibility of biologicals in your pest and disease management programs to optimize efficacy, crop quality, safety, productivity and, ultimately, net income.”
Be Patient
Another thing growers may struggle with when they make the shift to biological controls is the expectation of an immediate response. “You should give microorganisms in biopesticides time to get established on the plant or pest and act. Many of them are living spores and their growth and activity against pests or pathogens takes some time to develop. As such, timing and effectiveness of applications relative to the level and stage of the pest or pathogen, environmental conditions, and product formulation characteristics are some of the parameters that will determine the efficacy of a biological product,” Krause says.
Navigating a Wide Range of Products
One big pain point many growers have, Krause says, is how to choose the best product to use. “My position has always been to go for the registered products first, especially those registered in multiple countries outside the U.S. A product that is also registered outside the U.S. as they typically have more efficacy data available than what is required by the U.S. EPA and each of the states,” he says.
The Benefits of Trials
Companies like Lallemand Plant Care and others will often spend years trialing their products, and Krause says the most effective trials show both when a product is working and when it isn’t. “If it’s not working, that lets us know when there are conditions that might not be conducive to effectiveness, which we use to improve our guidance to growers or to improve our formulations,” Krause says. “The information we get from conversations with growers is also very valuable because it helps us know where recommendations need to be adjusted or a product might need to be improved to make it work better in a commercial environment.”
New Voices
“I think it’s important to have new people coming into the industry, and we’re seeing a lot of that today, including those who didn’t grow up in horticulture,” Krause says. “There’s quite a learning curve involved, but it’s exciting to see younger people from established growing operations working together with those who can bring new perspectives.”
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