Which approach aims to minimize hazards to people and the environment while managing pests?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a comprehensive approach that seeks to manage pests in a way that minimizes hazards to people and the environment. This method combines various management strategies and practices to reduce pest populations to acceptable levels. IPM emphasizes the use of monitoring and identifying pests, understanding their life cycles, and applying control methods judiciously and responsibly.

One of the key aspects of IPM is the focus on using a combination of biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tactics that are environmentally sustainable and economically viable. This holistic approach not only considers the immediate effectiveness of pest control measures but also their long-term impact on ecosystem health, human health, and pest resistance. By emphasizing prevention, monitoring, and informed decision-making, IPM fosters a safer interaction with the environment, effectively reducing risks associated with more invasive forms of pest management.

The other approaches mentioned are useful in specific contexts, but they do not encompass the same level of comprehensive risk assessment and environmental considerations as IPM does. Biological control relies primarily on natural predators and parasites but may not provide a complete solution in all scenarios. Chemical control tends to emphasize chemical pesticides that can pose risks to human health and the environment without the integrated strategies of IPM. Physical control involves using barriers and traps but may