The status of biological control and recommendations for improving uptake for the future

Classical and augmentative biological control of insect pests and weeds has enjoyed a long history of successes, however, biocontrol practices have not been as universally accepted or optimally utilised as they could be. An International Organisation for Biological Control (IOBC) initiative brought practitioners and researchers from widely diverse fields together to identify the main limitations to biocontrol uptake and to recommend means of mitigation. Limitations to uptake included: risk averse and unwieldy regulatory processes; increasingly bureaucratic access to biocontrol agents; insufficient engagement and communication with the public, stakeholders, growers and politicians of the considerable economic benefits of biocontrol; fragmentation of biocontrol sub-disciplines. In this contribution we summarise a range of recommendations for the future emphasis the need for improved communication of economic, environmental and social successes and benefits of biological control, targeting political, regulatory, grower/ land manager and other stakeholder interests. Political initiatives in some countries which augur well for biocontrol in the future are discussed.