ABSTRACT
Pest and disease management in conventional systems usually focuses on issues of direct control, while cultural practices and prevention are considered as general agronomical practices. The usually very brief sections about plant protection in organic farming books typically stress the importance of resistances, point to plant protection products allowed in organic farming and describe measures that can enhance natural disease and insect control. The rest of plant protection is presumed to be taken care of by rotations and these are allocated in the agronomy sections. In Part 1 of this book almost all chapters deal with methods that contribute to improved plant health. Nevertheless, organic growers are frequently confronted with insect pests and plant pathogens.
