# Biological control is one method used to help feed the growing human population. Explain how biological control works and outline one advantage and one disadvantage of using biological control instead of pesticides.

> OCR GCSE Biology A: Gateway Science (J247) — B6.2 Feeding the human race · Explain · 4 marks

> Farmers are under pressure to increase crop yields to feed the growing human population. One approach that avoids the use of chemical pesticides is biological control, which involves introducing a natural predator or pathogen to reduce pest numbers.

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Biological control involves introducing a natural predator (or pathogen/parasite) to reduce the number of pests
2. The predator eats (or the pathogen infects) the pest, reducing damage to crops and increasing yield
3. One advantage: biological control does not involve chemicals / pesticides, so there is no chemical pollution of the environment / water supply / soil
4. One disadvantage: the introduced organism may itself become a pest / harm non-target species / reduce biodiversity

## Key terms

- [biological control](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/biological-control)
- [pest](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pest)
- [pesticides](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/pesticides)

## Related

- [Revision notes for OCR GCSE Biology A: Gateway Science (J247)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/biological-control-is-one-method-used-9f205228) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.