The role of the IOBC for research and implementation of biological and integrated crop protection

Abstract

The International Organization for Biological Control of Noxious Animals and Plants (IOBC) was founded in 1956 in Europe under the auspices of the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS). In 1971, IOBC Global was established with six Regional Sections that represent the world’s major biogeographical zones. The main objective of IOBC is to promote the development of biological control and its application in integrated pest management programs and integrated production. The West Palaearctic Regional Section of the IOBC (IOBC/WPRS) which covers the EU region, North Africa and the Near East has at present 20 Working Groups (WG) and four Commissions which are categorised in crop, method and pest focused groups. The role of the WG and Commissions is to offer platforms that bring biocontrol, IPM/IP and other crop protection stakeholders together to foster collaboration, exchange of information and knowledge, to initiate cooperation for research and implementation of sustainable crop protection methods and strategies. WG and Commissions are open to any person, institution and organization, public or private, that desire to promote the objectives of IOBC. Three examples of WG are discussed in more detail in the paper showing how activities are developed and outcomes implemented in biocontrol and Integrated Pest Management.