5th National IPM Symposium

The 5th National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Symposium, “Delivering on a Promise,” was held April 4-6, 2006, in St. Louis, MO. More than 650 people from 23 countries shared innovations that will lead to a safer food supply, enhanced human health, and an improved environment.. The program included mini-symposia, workshops, and roundtable sessions that reviewed the basic tenets of IPM and addressed challenges to educate the public about the importance of IPM. Sessions featured state-of-the-art strategies and technologies that will successfully solve pest problems in agricultural, recreational, natural, and community settings. IPM is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. The IPM approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and schools. The organizing committee is planning a sixth U.S. national IPM symposium in 2009.

The first National IPM Achievement Awards were presented at the symposium. There were 25 award nominations from four countries, all demonstrating effective IPM practices and programs that deliver economic, health, and environmental benefits. The 2006 National IPM Achievement Award winners are:

Glades Crop Care, Inc., Jupiter, FL
Hawaii Area-Wide Fruit Fly Integrated Pest Management Program
Integrated Pest Management Program, City and County of San Francisco, CA
Dr. Marc Lame, Monroe IPM School Model, Bloomington, IN
Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association

The Regional IPM Centers, supported by NIFA, were a significant presence at the symposium. Center leaders and staff played a key role in planning the event, and many sessions were organized by Center working groups and affiliates. The Regional IPM Centers also hosted a joint display, offering information and publications about the Centers and their partners. Presentations, poster abstracts, and other related material are posted on the Centers’ Web site.

The symposium was sponsored by NIFA, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Agricultural Research Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, and Forest Service; the Environmental Protection Agency; the IR-4 Project; the National Park Service; the United State Agency for International Development; the University of California Exotic/Invasive Pests and Diseases Research Program; and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Pesticide Risk Education Program.

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