THE ROLE OF PUBLIC-POLICY IN BIOLOGICAL-CONTROL - SOME GLOBAL TRENDS

The past decade has been a rapid development in the view that contempo rary agricultural practices should meet the needs of the present witho ut compromising the ability of future generations. This philosophy has broadened the priorities for research and development in primary prod uction systems. Now there is reduced emphasis on efficiency and produc tivity, and an increased concern for ecological sustainability. This h as had an impact on policies relating to biological control technologi es and associated policies have been developed to enhance the uptake o f biopesticides. At the same time international agreements on climate change, biodiversity and global trading have potential influences on t he use of biological control agents and biological technologies. In th is review some of these trends in public policy are highlighted as wel l as the likely effect they may have in the adoption, implementation a nd ongoing development of biological control technologies.