The Need for a Holistic Approach to Pest Management

This chapter includes definitions of concepts such as reductionism, holism, complexity and socio-environmental systems, among others, as a starting point to favor incorporation of a holistic approach to pest management. It emphasizes the importance of managing socio-environmental systems by setting a goal based on the quality of life that reflects the most important values of people. It is recognized that pest problems are complex, since there are many factors that affect them. As elements of a socio-environmental system, it is proposed that the solution of problems generated by pests depends on the solution of other problems or elements of the system. In turn, their own solution contributes little to solving other problems. Next, the problem of socio-environmental systems of family farming and how the poverty of many farmers limits the management of pests is presented. Finally, there is a reflection on the importance of thinking and acting holistically as a principle to change the current pest management paradigm.