The Ecosystem Approach to Grain Storage

Abstract

The progress in understanding the stored grain ecosystem is reviewed. Succession of insects, insect movement and distribution, interaction among insects and microflora, and the development of hot spots inside stored grain ecosystems are evaluated. Based on these case studies, we examined the understanding of the stored grain ecosystem from the view of ecosystem approach. To understand the storage grain ecosystem, integration of the parts (the collected data under small scale laboratory conditions) into a usable whole (the entire grain storage ecosystem) is required. To verify the synthesised whole, both small and full scale tests are required. To manage the stored grain ecosystem, understanding the ecosystem and application of ecosystem approach are the keys. © 2012 NAAS (National Academy of Agricultural Sciences).