Food security and biointegrity without pesticides | Max Suckling | TEDxChristchurch

There's no doubt that insect invasions can be devastating to crops, but as pesticide use becomes ever more widespread, it becomes less and less effective while still having potentially harmful effects on our health and our ecosystem. Professor Max Suckling has an alternative. His approach -- of working with natural pest behaviour and ecology -- has generated dramatic results: eliminating insect invasions while leaving behind nothing but clean, green, residue-free produce.

Professor Max Suckling leads the biosecurity research group at Plant & Food Research and is a Professor at the University of Auckland. He studies a very wide range of pest and beneficial insects, with a strong chemical ecology focus. They use electrophysiology and behavioural tools to resolve questions about the chemistry of natural signalling products, including insect attractants. The group have been recognised with a range of awards, including New Zealand Innovators (2013) for work on commercialising moth sex pheromones.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at http://ted.com/tedx