Coordinated pest management decisions in the presence of management externalities: The case of greenhouse whitefly in California-grown strawberries

Optimal pest management can be compounded by externalities associated with management decisions among adjacent crop fields managed by agricultural producers. In this paper, a bioeconomic model is used to measure the effects of management decisions on optimal pest management. The case of the greenhouse whitefly invasion of California-grown strawberries is considered. Results show that coordinated pest management decisions among host crop growers may improve returns, but only during certain parts of the strawberry growing season. Two generalizable pest management policy implications are presented.

Research highlights
► Coordinated pest management decisions among host crop growers may improve returns.
► If coordination increases profits, growers may be willing to pay to coordinate.
► Bioeconomic analysis may indicate components of policies encouraging coordination.