A more inclusive biovigilance approach to pest management: Case study of the strawberry blossom weevil

Biovigilance is an ecosystems-based approach to understand and reduce the negative effects of climate change, pest movements and changes in behaviour, and new crops and farming practices on plant health. Anticipating and understanding how pests, their natural enemies, and environmental conditions will evolve allows for adapting agricultural practices to cope with changing conditions, and results in increased agroecosystem and crop health. This approach relies on a continuum of science-based activities to ensure that mitigation strategies are efficient and do not create new problems. These steps start with awareness and build towards understanding, mitigating, and anticipating unintended consequences. Biovigilance requires a holistic, de-silo'd approach in order to be successful. Fundamentally, this means monitoring and understanding the effects of invasive insects, disease, and reactionary management practices beyond our agro-ecosystems, into the broader landscape. A pilot project in British Columbia applies biovigilance principles to the establishment and management of Anthonomus rubi, and involves a diverse group of stakeholders to collectively address the issues surrounding it. This presentation will summarize this ongoing work and the current results of this effort.