Answer :
Final answer:
Thorough cleaning reduces pests' food supply and access in a foodservice operation, but it doesn't eliminate the need for a pest control program or completely remove pests. Biological control tools, which use organisms to manage pests, are part of an effective and environmentally safer pest management strategy. Integrating physical, biological, and chemical methods as in IPM programs minimizes chemical pesticide use and promotes sustainability.
Explanation:
Thoroughly cleaning a foodservice operation primarily reduces pests' food supply, but it also helps to deny pests access to the foodservice operation. However, it does not eliminate the need for a pest control program nor does it eliminate pests completely from a foodservice operation. Pests can still enter and survive in a clean environment if they can find shelter and breeding grounds.
Using biological control tools can be an effective way to manage pest populations without causing harm to the environment or human health. These tools include the use of organisms, such as predators and parasites, to control pests. This is known as biological pest management. For instance, introducing species that prey upon and destroy pest species can reduce pesticide use and enhance the effectiveness of pest control.
While biological control is an important strategy, it is only one component of an integrated pest management (IPM) program. An IPM approach combines physical, biological, and chemical methods to achieve long-term, sustainable pest control. This multi-faceted approach helps to minimize the use of chemical pesticides, which can be harmful to non-target species and the environment.