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Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is not a technique, but rather a set of strategies and tactics that includes (as opposed to being 'instead of') the use of pesticides - just in a smarter and more efficient way. Basically, it is a way of approaching pest control that takes into account economics, biology and sustainability to determine best-fit methods for particular pest problems that take into account the cost, the particulars of the pest and environmental factors.

The traditional approach to using pesticides could be likened to the use of a nuclear bomb: a broad-spectrum pesticide would simply be sprayed everywhere and designed to kill as many kinds of pests as possible. However, this approach is clearly not economical, does not target a specific species of pest deemed to be a problem and is not good for the environment.

Unfortunately, IPM is not currently a regulated phenomena in any way the directly effects the consumer: you can't simply go out and buy products that use IPM techniques like you can buy organic foods. Hopefully, as this smart approach to managing pests becomes more popular, the EPA will find more and better ways to advocate IPM and encourage its practices through rewards and standardization.

For more information on IPM: http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/ factsheets/ipm.htm

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