Educated and Engaged Communicators Are Critical to Successful Integrated Pest Management Adoption

Abstract

Integrated pest management (IPM) programs combining multiple compatible pest control tactics can result in effective commodity protection, pesticide use reduction, and cost savings – yet establishment of IPM programs is still low in many areas of the United States. While several potential causes of and solutions to low adoption rates exist, our focus is on the often-neglected human aspect of IPM. IPM educators who serve as the conduit of IPM research and advice to IPM practitioners often face challenges in areas that are less scientific and more social, such as communication and teaching. The skills needed in these areas (e.g., conflict management and resolution, needs assessment, negotiation, training, and informal education) are sometimes neglected in the professional development of future IPM educators, to the detriment of their ability to work with practitioners to encourage adoption of IPM programs. We explore these challenges, including a survey of current IPM educators, and propose areas of communication skills that could be included in the professional development of future or early-career IPM educators.