ABSTRACT
Agricultural production in tropical agroecosystems is greatly impacted by pests (arthropods, pathogens, nematodes and weeds) with the result that the use of synthetic pesticides has been on the rise. This is particularly true for cash and horticultural crops that have a significant economic return. Recently, however, the use of pesticides is being restricted on crops destined for export, following the introduction of new maximum residue levels in industrialized countries.
