​​​The IPM Initiative is a division within the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology which conducts research specifically on topics related to Integrated Pest Management (IPM).

In order to be responsive to industry needs, the IPM Initiative maintains strong ties and communication with many important industry partners such as Hortgro, Winetech, and the Agricultural Research Council as well as many private industry partners.

Academic research is conducted by full-time staff members of the university, as well as many postdoctoral researchers, MSc students and PhD students who are being trained for future careers in IPM while contributing to our knowledge regarding the sustainable control of insect pests.

In addition to conducting research, the IPM Initiative also has a diagnostic service, Blue Bug Insect Diagnostic Service, which offers a variety of user-pay commercial services to the ​industry. These include:

 Insect identification service

Pest monitoring service

​Workshop and training session planning and hosting

Printed materials such as pest fact sheets and posters.

To enquire about teaching and learning opportunities, services or products, please contact: 

Caro Kapp ckapp@sun.ac.za 021-808-9600.