Preventive pest management focuses on what aspect of pest control?

Preventive pest management concentrates on reducing the likelihood of pest infestations and damage before they occur. This proactive approach encompasses a variety of strategies, such as implementing cultural practices, enhancing crop health, rotating crops, and using pest-resistant varieties. By focusing on minimizing the environmental conditions that allow pests to thrive, preventive pest management can significantly lower the risk of pest outbreaks, leading to healthier crops and reducing the need for reactive measures like chemical treatments.

While the other options present different aspects of pest management, they do not align with the core philosophy of prevention. Immediate chemical treatments address existing pest problems rather than preventing them, controlling pests after their appearance is a reactive approach that can be more costly and damaging, and only using natural deterrents restricts the wider range of strategies available in a comprehensive pest management plan. Thus, the emphasis on minimizing chances of pest infestations makes preventative pest management a cornerstone of effective agriculture.