They are the second most important such biological pest control agents traded globally. NUI Maynooth has leading university researchers in this area, aiming to encourage biotechnological industrial development, and to reduce the impact of chemical pesticides on the environment, and pesticide residues in Irish food. Non chemical pest control is central to the future of quality food. It is a tool of low input agriculture and horticulture, including organic food production. In addition to that, biological insect control is now demanded for forests, golfing greens and other areas in which the use of chemicals is being resisted by the public.
Nematodes can go in search of the target pests in soil.
This makes them important for the control of really difficult pests such as black vine weevil that attacks the 12 million Irish strawberry harvest.