Organic producers have traditionally understood the value of conserving the natural enemies of the pests of the crops they grow. An equal appreciation of the value of importing new species of natural enemies is also needed. Given this understanding, the interests of organic farmers could then be promoted by efforts to stimulate greater activity by government agencies in charge of such importations. Furthermore, the focus of such importations could be altered to target more precisely pests of crops most commonly grown by organic producers. This would benefit organic farmers by permanently solving or greatly reducing the intensity of problems from many introduced crop pests. The potential benefit of a coordinated federal and state program of classical biological control could be very large for organic farmers. There is an increasing interest nationwide in expanding the use of classical biological controls. Organic producers now have the opportunity to add their influence to this trend to reshape the country's pest control agenda away from chemicals and toward biological controls and to focus this at least in part on those pests of greatest concern to organic producers. To do so, however, organic producers will have to learn a new lesson, i.e., the difference between native and imported pests and the value of importation as a means to control the latter.

Classical biological control has been very effective against many introduced pests in the tropics and because it is permanent should be preferred as a control strategy for these pests. However, many pests are native or long established and of uncertain origin. Although classical biological control of these is more difficult, it has been achieved on a number of occasions but in many instances satisfactory control has not been achieved despite considerable effort. Reassessment of control options is needed for these pests based on more thorough quantitative ecological studies than are available at present. Only in this way will rational control strategies be developed, maximizing the contribution of native as well as exotic natural enemies. Even so, in many instances, control of a complex of pests on a single crop will require development of integrated pest management including, at least initially, chemical control of some pests. For effective implementation, more and better trained personnel will be required as will the active co-operation of farmers.