This was fascinating! I’ve always heard that healthy plants are more resistant to pests, but I assumed it was a matter of being able to survive despite the inevitable infestations, and that there was no substitute for removing bugs by hand once they show up. These insights totally change my perspective – I’d never considered that I could treat an insect attack by foliar feeding the plants or adding minerals to the soil.

More than that, it makes me more cynical about finding insect damage on the organic produce I buy. People always say “well, that’s what you get when you buy organic,” or, “well if the bugs are eating it it must be good.” I’ve even heard that In Japan, people will actually pay extra for slightly insect-damaged produce, because it’s an indicator that the food is untainted by chemicals. This research suggests we have it backwards. As John Kempf says, plants that are being attacked by insects are “not fit for humans to eat.”

Just one more signal that I need to put more effort into improving my soil. Thanks for posting this!