The use of pesticides in horticulture and agriculture is discussed controversially due to the related health and environmental problems.
Several studies prove the existence of such negative externalities involved with pesticide use.
Hence, strategies are needed within the agricultural and horticultural production process which aim at reducing the amount of pesticides used. Adoption of biological control strategies is suitable to fulfill that goal. However, implementation of such strategies in commercial crop production occurs only on a very low scale although positive experiences are made with biological control to some extend already. A prime example of this issue is open field vegetable production. Broad adoption of non-chemical control will take place only, if the economic feasibility of such strategies is comparable to the one of traditional pesticide based systems.