Introduction to 2009 Symposium on Alternative Methods of Controlling Pests and Diseases

Numerous pests and diseases limit potato productivity, and control of weeds, insects and pathogens remains a costly part of potato production. Although conventional agrichemical pest control is generally effective, interest in non-synthetic chemical and integrated methods of pest management is driven by increasing concern over economic and environmental sustainability of potato production. The 2009 Potato Association of America Symposium entitled 'Alternative methods of controlling pests and disease' was organized to summarize currently used and developing alternative pest control strategies. Three speakers presented their experience with alternative measures for control of disease, insects and weeds. The final speaker described 20 years of growing organic and conventional potatoes utilizing regular field scouting and lower toxicity pesticides to enhance sustainability while obtaining acceptable yields. The diverse and timely information presented here will stimulate new thinking and new research into lower-cost, lower-impact pest control measures that maintain productivity, reduce grower costs and minimize the environmental footprint of potato production.