Biological Control

Biological control is based on the exploitation of natural enemies and offers an environmentally benign, sustainable and cost-effective approach for weed control. Such approach is complementary to currently implemented control strategies and lends itself to being part of an integrated management strategy. In Europe the use of biological control in weed management has recently gathered moment with a number of European countries actively pursuing research into and implementation of this method. Nonetheless, there is a need to raise the interest in developing biological control as a pivotal management tool against invasive weeds at the regional, national and landscape scale. This revived working group, following on from the one which formally existed until 2016, will promote biological control as an alternative weed management strategy and provide a platform for group members to collaborate on all aspects of biological weed control.