Flowering strips, botanical insecticides, beneficial microorganisms and rice–animal farming systems can all contribute to pest management without relying exclusively on synthetic pesticides. This review examines how these nature-based solutions can be combined to strengthen ecological resilience in rice agroecosystems while supporting stable production.

The authors bring together evidence on ecological engineering, biological control, microbial and botanical biopesticides, soil amendments and integrated farming. Flowering strips and border crops can provide habitat for natural enemies such as Cyrtorhinus lividipennis and Trichogramma japonicum, while neem and custard apple products offer botanical approaches to pest suppression. The review also considers biochar and silicon-mediated plant defences, as well as microbial agents including Bacillus thuringiensis and Metarhizium anisopliae. Integrated rice systems incorporating ducks or fish provide an additional layer of biological pest regulation.

Rather than presenting these measures as isolated alternatives, the review emphasizes their potential complementarity. Combining habitat management, biological agents, plant defences and integrated farming can support functional biodiversity and strengthen natural pest-regulation processes against important rice pests, including brown planthopper and yellow stemborer. The authors position this ecological approach as a framework for reducing pesticide dependence and improving the capacity of rice production systems to respond to environmental and climatic pressures.