Northeastern IPM Center-Led Study Explores IPM Adoption and Impacts

The article “IPM Adoption and Impacts in the United States” appears in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management 14, no. 1.

The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center is pleased to announce the publication of a new paper on IPM impacts, barriers to IPM adoption, and strategies for increasing IPM adoption, recently published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management.

The paper is based on a study led by the Northeastern IPM Center with assistance from the other three regional IPM centers. David Lane, evaluation specialist for the Northeastern IPM Center, is lead author of the paper. The co-authors are Tegan Walker, evaluation specialist for the Southern IPM Center, and Deborah G. Grantham, Northeastern IPM Center director.

The paper, “IPM Adoption and Impacts in the United States,” was published January 3, 2023.

Methods and Audience

Increased IPM adoption hinges not only on the future of innovative research, but also on the willingness of growers to adopt new IPM methods. By better understanding the drivers of—and potential barriers to—IPM adoption, researchers, educators, and extension personnel can better target future behavior change.

The authors surveyed state IPM coordinators, who are well qualified to offer insights on IPM adoption throughout their respective states.

Barriers and Opportunities for Improvement

Overall, respondents ranked “high cost of practice” as the most critical barrier to IPM adoption. “Difficulty of implementation” and “lack of awareness” were also highly ranked.

They ranked “improved cost-benefit analysis” as the most critically important way to increase adoption.

Takeaways and Proposed Solutions

These findings demonstrate the importance of providing improved economic cost-benefit analyses to accompany the promotion of new and existing IPM innovations.

The results reaffirm the impact achieved by the regional IPM centers by way of IPM coordination, communication, collaboration, and cooperation throughout their respective regions.

But the findings also suggest a need for more comprehensive extension and education programs that specifically address growers’ perceptions and concerns.

The paper is available to read online.

Related Link

Entomology Today has published an online article about the paper, titled “Survey Details Integrated Pest Management Adoption, Challenges in U.S.”