Stakeholder engagement in resilient pest control in Austria

To promote biodiversity and environmental protection, the use of sustainable agricultural practices is important. Austria, known for its high proportion of organic farms, has potential for further improvement in biological pest control and agrobiodiversity. This work conducted a qualitative social research that included expert interviews with stakeholders such as farmers, associations, researchers, authorities and NGOs. The aim was to identify challenges and opportunities in the implementation of biological pest control.Findings indicate that increased use of biological pest control can reduce pesticide dependence, protect the environment, improve resilience, and reduce health risks. However, barriers include lengthy approval processes, farmers' attitudes, insufficient subsidies, and doubts about its effectiveness. To address these, legal reforms, financial incentives, and educational workshops are recommended to encourage wider adoption of biological pest control.