Topic 1, Team 1: North Carolina State University (faculty advisor – Dr. Hannah Burrack)

Sustainable food production and ecosystem services are both essential to human well-being, but excessive proliferation of insect consumers disrupts natural and agro-ecosystems --- posing a threat to food security. Intentional and unintentional introductions of exotic species by humans are ongoing, and this necessitates management. We argue non-native insect introduction is an ethical approach for counteracting proliferation of consumers, as we have an ethical imperative to act in goodwill toward human well-being by mitigating the impact of invasive herbivores. Decision-making in goodwill is based on reason and our current understanding, despite unintended consequences. Thus, intentional implementation of classical biological control is an ethical approach to invasive pest management when the decision to implement, based on current knowledge, is performed in goodwill toward human well-being. Biological control should operate on stakeholder-driven risk assessment supported by evidence of system-specific insect-ecosystem interactions. Effective stakeholder engagement values democratic decision-making by agencies obligated to act in the public’s interest. Classical biocontrol is an ethical approach when the following criteria are met: (1) non-intervention constitutes more risk than intervention, (2) other management strategies are ineffective (and/or present greater risk) and integration with biocontrol improves outcomes, (3) conflicts of interests between stakeholders are addressed, and (4) stakeholders are meaningfully engaged through transparent communication, education, and recognition of needs. These four criteria, and the measures on which they are evaluated, can and should be adapted over time as new information is learned. In doing so, we continue to act ethically toward human well-being and food security.