Bianca Araujo

My research is significant because it supports sustainable agriculture aimed at replacing the use of pesticides with biological control agents (BCAs). As a case study, I focused on the Dock Beetle, an Irish native invertebrate as a potential BCA. My research also highlights critical legal gaps and proposes science-based approval mechanisms to ensure ecological safety. It sets a regulatory pathway for the use of BCAs in Ireland, supporting the EU Farm to Fork Strategy. It promotes policy change by suggesting developments in the national framework for native BCA registration. This introduces an environmentally sustainable alternative pest management, opening pathways for Irish practices to lead EU agricultural goals.