Poster Session 3, 1:15 PM - 2:00 PM: Campus Center Auditorium [A23]

Organic Farming and Insect Pest Control

Presenter: Sophie Audrey Harrold

Faculty Sponsor: George LoCascio

School: Mount Wachusett Community College

Research Area: Environmental Science and Sustainability

ABSTRACT

     As long as humans have been participating in agriculture, there have been detrimental insects aiding in crop failures within our food systems. Through time, a wide range of various means have been explored and implemented for their management to ensure crop success. The means have ranged from synthetic pesticides, a modern means of control, to the use of naturally occurring biological controls such as co-evolved parasitic relationships. Recently, some synthetic pesticides have shown to have had several negative side effects on beneficial insects in agriculture, as well as several negative side effects on animals and humans if they are consumed. As an alternative to the use of synthetic pesticides, for example, naturally occurring biological controls, with co-evolved parasitic relationships have been of increased interest in farming throughout the world, including the United States. Across the United States, there is a wide range of pest insects, and a wide range of means have arisen to deal with these pests. This study will focus on several detrimental insects affecting one farm in Massachusetts, USA, Snowplace Farm. Through interviews with the owners and various forms of online research, we explored how Snowplace Farm grows organic produce using reduced amounts of synthetic pesticides and implements the use of biological controls to combat against various detrimental insects.

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