Safeguarding production—losses in major crops and the role of crop protection

It is well accepted that agricultural production must be increased considerably in the foreseeable future to meet the food and feed demands of a rising human population and increasing livestock production. Crop protection plays a key role in safeguarding crop productivity against competition from weeds, animal pests, pathogens and viruses. The loss potential of these pest groups and the actual losses—i.e. losses despite the present crop...