ISCEP 2026 At Sunway Putra Hotel 17-18 August 2026
ABSTRACT
PLENARY SPEAKER 2
RESHAPING URBAN PEST MANAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES
Jo-Lynn TEH
Rapid urbanisation, climate change, and increasing human-pest interactions are intensifying pest risks in cities, affecting public health, food safety, and urban liveability. Conventional pest control has traditionally relied on reactive, treatment-focused approaches that target visible infestations rather than the underlying drivers of pest problems. Although effective in the short term, these practices often lead to recurring infestations, increased chemical use, pesticide resistance, and unintended environmental impacts. This presentation highlights the need to transform urban pest management from episodic treatment to risk-based, prevention-first systems founded on entomological science, ecological principles, and measurable performance outcomes. Integrated Pest Management (PM) and Pest Risk Management (PRM) provide the framework for this transition when consistently implemented in practice. A key example is Singapore Standard SS 721:2025 Code of Practice for the Performance of Pest Management Services. As Southeast Asia's first national performance-based pest management standard, SS 721 promotes structured pest risk assessment, proportionate interventions, continuous monitoring. and reduced dependence on routine chemical treatments. Developed through multi-stakeholder collaboration, it shits accountability from treatment frequency to measurable pest risk reduction while supporting broader public health and sustainability goals. The presentation will discuss how SS 721 operationalises IPM and PRM principles, how similar frameworks can be adapted to other urban settings, and how digital monitoring, data-driven decision-making, and cross-sector collaboration strengthen preventive pest governance. By positioning pest management as an integral component of urban sustainability, cities can better protect public health, improve food safety, and build resilience against growing ecological and climatic challenges.
Keywords: urban peat management, Integrated Pest Management, Peat Risk Management,bility55 721-2005, urban health
INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE ON ENTOMOLOGY AND PEST SCEP) 2006