Crop pest control in China: Advances and perspectives

Abstract

There are many different kinds of crop pests widely distributed in China, which are very complex in occurrence and difficult in prevention and control. They may outbreak suddenly, causing serious damages to crops, and thereby have a significant impact on food security and safety. In the past 70 years, the development of basic research in plant protection in China has made great progress and profound changes, starting from simple agricultural intervention measures to current integrated, biologically-based and environment-friendly protection measures to effectively prevent and control crop pests. These measures are mainly dependent on the progress of innovation in the following fields: better understanding of the epidemic and migration patterns of major crop pests and diseases, elucidation on mechanisms for causing damages to crop by pests, discovery of novel technology and products for control of crop diseases and pests, and establishment of surveillance, early warning and control systems for management of crop pests. With the improvement of the scientific and technological progress in plant protection, the innovation of the future plant protection research will focus on discovery of new epidemic pattern for crop pests; establishment of effective pest detection, monitoring and early warning system; development of green and effective pesticides, biological control products. Thus, sustainable management of crop pests and disease could be reached at local, regional and global levels. In conclusion, development of a full-scale national plant protection technical support system would meet the requirements of the food security and safety and natural environment and contribute to the global Sustainable Development Goals.