What is the primary objective of Integrated Pest Management (IPM)?

The primary objective of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is to integrate practices for economic control of pests. This approach emphasizes the importance of using a combination of methods that are effective, economical, and environmentally sustainable. It aims to manage pest populations at acceptable levels while minimizing the risks to human health, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

IPM strategies might include monitoring pest populations, understanding pest life cycles, using resistant plant varieties, biological control agents, and selective chemical use when necessary. This holistic approach ensures that pest control combines various tactics rather than relying on a single method, which often leads to the development of pest resistance and broader ecological issues.

In contrast, the other options suggest strategies that either focus too narrowly or lack the balanced approach that IPM advocates. For example, trying to eradicate all pest populations is often not feasible or desirable, as some pests may have beneficial roles or serve as part of the ecosystem. Relying solely on chemical pesticides can lead to resistance and environmental harm, while promoting the use of traps only would neglect many other useful methods within the broader perspective that IPM embraces.