Sustainable Plant Protection Measures in Regenerative Farming

The production farming sector is grappling with a complex situation arising from the increasing global population and escalating demand for energy and food. The remarkable advancements in food production, facilitated by specialized operations such as monoculture agricultural methods, have resulted in a heightened need for both food and fibre. However, this increased production comes at a cost to the sustainability of food production due to its significant negative impact on natural resources. Particularly in developing countries or rural regions, the situation is dire due to the scarcity of resources available to agricultural communities. Regenerative agriculture offers an alternative approach to prevent reaching a critical juncture in agricultural production and as an essential approach for meeting the growing food demands across the globe, protecting the environment and ensuring social equity. Many individuals believe that regenerative agriculture has the potential to sustain and support food production. Regenerative development is crucial as it entails the restoration of soils, forests, streams, and the atmosphere. Regenerative agriculture can produce food with fewer adverse environmental and social repercussions. This chapter discusses the principles and practices of sustainable plant protection measures through regenerative farming. The measures include emphasizing biological and ecological processes, reducing usage of non-renewable inputs, and enhancing traditional ecological knowledge. This chapter also focuses on the necessity of shifting from integrated pest management (IPM) to agroecological crop protection and discouraging the reductionist approach to agroecosystem design. Stakeholders are currently evaluating the sustainability of food production within the regenerative agriculture framework. This chapter explores the utilization of cultural, mechanical, physical, biological, and other environmentally friendly approaches to achieve pest management. The goal is to promote ecological, economic, and sociological sustainability.