A review of literature indicates a history of nearly 70 years of applied biological control practices for agricultural pest control in Iran. The introduction of two ladybug species and a parasitoid wasp initiated the classical biological control program in the country. The mass-rearing and augmentative release of the scelionid parasitic wasp of the Sunn pest (Eurygaster integriceps) along with the use of natural biological control of the sugarcane stem borer highlighted technical and scientific potentials in research, education, and implementation of biological control approaches. These achievements have substantially facilitated development of biological control programs for other crops. On a global scale, the publication of “The Silent Spring” (Carson, 1962) and “Pesticide Conspiracy” (Van Den Bosch, 1978) increasingly raised public awareness of chemical pesticides, which led to the approval and implementation of national programs mainly in Europe, to reduce the use of these chemicals. Iran has also adopted a similar program since 1994 by developing and implementing 5-year plans with main focus on biological control methods. Another reason for development of biological control programs was based on data resulted from studies and evidence that indicate non-standard levels of chemical inputs in different agricultural products. The purpose of our analytical approach-based paper is to review and evaluate the development of biological control programs over the past three decades in farms, orchards, and greenhouses in Iran. Specific effective strategies to improve performance and efficiency of these programs within the framework of integrated pest management will be discussed.

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