Biological control, or biocontrol, is the exploitation of living agents (incl. viruses) to combat pestilential organisms (incl. pathogens, pests, and weeds) for diverse purposes to provide human benefits. Thus, during the last century the practices and concepts involved have evolved in separate streams associated with distinct scientific and taxonomic disciplines. In parallel developments, there have been increasing references to biological control in industrial contexts and legislation, resulting in conceptual and terminological disintegration. The aim of this paper is to provide a global conceptual and terminological platform that facilitates future development of the field. We review use of previously suggested terms in key fields (e.g., phytopathology, entomology, and weed science), eliminate redundant terminology, identify three principles that should underpin the concept, and then present a new framework for biological control, rooted in seminal publications. The three principles establish that (1) only living agents can mediate biological control, (2) biological control always targets a pest, directly or indirectly, and (3) all biocontrol methods can be classified in four main categories depending on whether resident agents are utilized, with or without targeted human intervention (conservation biological control and natural biological control, respectively) or agents are added for permanent or temporary establishment (classical biological control and augmentative biological control, respectively). Correct identification of what is, and is not, biological control can help efforts to understand and optimize biological pest control for human and environmental benefits. The new conceptual framework may contribute to more uniform and appropriate regulatory approaches to biological control, and more efficient authorization and application of biocontrol products.

生物控制或生物控制，是为了多种目的提供人类利益而利用生物制剂（包括病毒）与瘟疫生物（包括病原体，害虫和杂草）作斗争。因此，在上个世纪中，所涉及的实践和概念在与不同的科学和分类学学科相关的不同流中得到了发展。在并行发展中，在工业环境和立法中越来越多地提到生物控制，导致概念和术语上的瓦解。本文的目的是提供一个全球概念和术语平台，以促进该领域的未来发展。我们审查了在关键领域（例如植物病理学，昆虫学和杂草科学）中先前建议的术语的使用，消除了多余的术语，确定了应支撑该概念的三项原则，然后提出一个新的生物防治框架，该框架植根于开创性出版物。这三个原则确立了（1）仅活菌可以介导生物防治，（2）生物防治始终直接或间接地针对有害生物，并且（3）所有生物防治方法可以根据驻地菌是否为杀虫剂分为四大类。在有针对性的人为干预或没有人为干预的情况下使用分别添加保护性生物防治和自然生物防治）或用于永久性或临时性建立的药剂（分别是经典生物防治和增强生物防治）。正确识别什么是生物防治以及什么不是生物防治可以帮助人们努力理解和优化生物虫害防治，从而为人类和环境带来益处。新的概念框架可能有助于更统一和适当的生物控制监管方法，以及生物控制产品的更有效授权和应用。