Tongxian Liu
College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University

Are pesticides really necessary? In recent years, I have had the pleasure and the challenge of conducting research in biological control and integrated pest management with an attempt to managing pests without using pesticides. People often ask the question: “Are pesticides really necessary?” All of us know that biological, genetic and other non-chemical methods of control and at time s had been showered with reports of chemical hazards to health and the environment, some real and some highly problematical. I believe that for the most part those people may be unaware of the proven benefits of pesticides; they have shown only the negative of the pesticides. Wise decision on trade-offs require knowledge of both the good and the bad of the pesticides. I hope this talk will provide some insight into new methods of pest control and the pros and cons of some of the current pest control methods and technologies.