Abstract
Area-wide management of mobile pests offers advantages over
uncoordinated farm-by-farm efforts through increased effectiveness of pest
control and by reducing the need for pesticides. The literature about area-wide pest
management focuses predominantly on the technical aspects of these programs,
but tends to neglect the importance of social and institutional aspects. In this
article the eight design principles for robust common-pool resource institutions
are applied to industry-driven area-wide pest management. Three case studies
are compared to gain insight about the social and institutional aspects that affect
the success of these undertakings. These cases are focused on Queensland Fruit
Fly control to underpin market access. Growers face a particular challenge to
gain support from town residents, as backyard fruit trees can be pest breeding
spots. The paper illustrates that social aspects – such as heterogeneous incentives,
social capital and the ratio between town residents and main beneficiary growers
– influence the ease of which the design principles can be applied. Market access
opportunities impact the ratio of cost and benefits to different participants. The
paper concludes that disconnecting the technical aspects of successful programs
from the social and institutional aspects in which they are embedded can create
unrealistic expectations in socially different regions that intend to replicate these
programs.