The
practice of modern agriculture is typically considered as unstable. In
landscapes occupied by crops, we usually observe only one plant species taking
over a huge amount of land. Cereals, fruits and vegetables are cultivated worldwide almost exclusively in mono crops. Under these conditions, pest and
diseases outbreaks are more frequent and losses are unavoidable, if control
methods were not applied. Pests may reproduce faster, and after crop harvest,
these insects, mites and fungi spores, may spread and infect adjacent areas.
Synthetic broad spectrum pesticides are usually used, eliminating possible
natural enemies. Simple substitution of inputs (for example, replacement of
soluble synthetic chemical fertilization and pesticides by high doses of
organic fertilizers and green pesticides) is not a suitable solution. In general, green pesticides or biological control agents demands more time to be effective against pests. In addition, heavy fertilization, even of organic
origin, may increase pest populations and incidence or severity of plant
diseases. Instead building resilience in agriculture with a complex web of
biological interactions may be a sustainable way to manage pests.