A socioeconomic analysis of biocontrol in integrated pest management: A review of the effects of uncertainty, irreversibility and flexibility

The farm-level MISTICs per hectare for biocontrol of Western Corn Rootworm in maize cultivation in the selected countries were estimated to be less than €150/ha while biocontrol of wireworms in potato cultivation, well above €200/ha. These results suggest that the introduction of biocontrol for wireworms in potato cultivation, given the higher MISTICs values, is more economically viable compared to the biocontrol of Western Corn Rootworm in maize. The model can also be extended to include other factors such as regulatory hurdles.