What does integrated pest management (IPM) focus on?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) focuses on a sustainable approach to managing pests. This method combines various management strategies and practices to reduce pest populations in an environmentally-friendly and economically viable manner. IPM emphasizes understanding the pest's lifecycle, monitoring pest levels, and using a combination of biological control, cultural practices, mechanical control, and, when necessary, limited use of chemical pesticides, ensuring that chemical applications are used judiciously and as a last resort. The goal of IPM is not just to eliminate pests but to manage them effectively while minimizing adverse effects on human health, beneficial organisms, and the environment.

The other options do not align with the principles of IPM. The exclusive use of chemical pesticides is contrary to the IPM philosophy, which promotes integrating various tactics to avoid pesticide over-reliance. Planting only resistant varieties is a component of IPM but is not comprehensive enough to define the entire approach. Immediate eradication of all pests conflicts with the IPM strategy, which aims for long-term pest management rather than total eradication, recognizing that some pests can be controlled while still allowing beneficial insects to thrive.