Many people equate biological control with organic farming and gardening.
This misconception has resulted in numerous queries to MBCN for general information on organic production, or specific information on non-biological controls acceptable in organic production. While biological control plays an important role in organic production, the two are actually quite separate concepts. Biological control, as we define it at MBCN, is the planned use of living predators, parasitic insects, pathogens, and competing and antagonistic organisms, collectively called beneficial natural enemies, to suppress pest populations and thereby reduce the amount of injury caused by pests. It is true that organic producers are sometimes more knowledgeable about biological controls because they are more restricted as to their pest management options and often rely more on non-chemical approaches. But increasing numbers of conventional farmers and gardeners are also using biological controls.