Natural pest control on organic farms is no better than on conventional ones, a BBSRC-funded study has found.

A University of Bristol team has shown that caterpillars are attacked by parasites to the same degree on both conventional and organic farms – at least in the south west.

Previously it was thought that the extra biodiversity on organic units gave better natural pest control.

Team leader Jane Memmott believes the region’s preservation of hedges and woods may partly explain the finding.

“It’s sometimes forgotten that the increase in species diversity and abundance on organic farms may mean that there are not only more predators but also more prey for them to attack,” adds project colleague Bill Symondson.