Conceptualisation of Economic Injury Level and Economic Threshold: Agricultural Management, Food Security, Climate Factors, and Value Chain

Abstract

Innovations in agricultural sciences have created opportunities for a multidisciplinary approach to explain the major reasons for yield reductions under low-cost production conditions. The aim of this review is to synthesize recent advances and explain the relationship between economic injury level (EIL) and economic threshold (ET) in the contexts of food security and agri-food value chain risk management, including pre- and post-harvest stages. Modern integrated pest management (IPM) frameworks show that pest density must never be evaluated in isolation. The presence, abundance, and effectiveness of natural enemies significantly alter the likelihood that a pest population will reach the EIL. Modern food-security strategies increasingly incorporate digital innovations that enhance ET accuracy. Results of cost-benefit analysis evaluated whether the economic value of preventing crop losses outweighs the costs associated with control actions. This information is important in that it involves comparing expected yield savings, derived from preventing pest populations from reaching damaging levels, with management of the expenses of intervention and potential environmental or ecological trade-offs. The study recommends the use of artificial intelligence (AI) models to coordinate climate and economic data to predict biological consequences associated with the main threats to sustainable food systems.