RESPONSES

    This paper from the Journal of Environmental Management titled Biological control of pests and a social model of animal welfare dives deep into the sociocultural implications of using biological pest control. The intersection of animal welfare and pest management is analyzed. The emphasis on managing species in this paper is for invasive species and their effects as they relate to climate change. In the context of our class however, we can look at these practices through the lens of conservation and as they relate to crop yield. Alongside the introduction of animal species to non-native locations whether on purpose or as a result of anthropocentric activities, humans are also responsible for non-native species damage on ecosystems through agriculture.

     Through looking at what we determine to be the welfare of these animals, the paper addresses the path environmentalism has taken in the animal realm. The definition of the welfare of an animal has changed drastically since the 1980s, where now many consider that there should be "[….] equal consideration to 'the basic health and functioning of animals, their affective state (pain, distress) and the ability of animals to lead reasonably natural lives'". How do we define the animals that we are attempting to biologically control? What about those species that we are using to do the said biological control? It may not be brought up frequently, but ethical conversations are important to have in agriculture. There is so much manipulation and control of what is still considered an ecosystem, therefore I believe that these are important questions to at the very least ask and consider.

     In agricultural practices, the use of biological control is often regarded positively, in that it reduces the use of chemical alternatives to pest management. By introducing parasites, pathogens, or predators this encourages the system to function to reduce identified pests with some level of control. This is no easy feat, however, as multiple pests can thrive or survive in a multitude of environmental conditions and the web of interactions is fairly complex. The paper questions whether physical observations of success of the biological control alternative to pest management is enough. Should the use of biological controls take priority over chemical methods? Do we know enough about the intersectional complexities that these organisms will have with each other to prevent further catastrophe or damage? It brings up questions about our role in these ecosystems, such as, should we hold this power and use it to benefit our agricultural efforts? And is this ethical to be using these animals for biological control?