Greenhouse tomato production holds strong economic importance in the Western Balkan (WB) countries, driven by escalating market demands. To align with global food safety trends, systematic advancements in cultivation practices and pest management strategies are essential for the WB region. Conventional reliance on chemical pesticides as the primary pest control method has led to various adverse outcomes, impacting pest management effectiveness and reducing product quality. The impact of climate change on agricultural productivity further emphasizes the need for environmentally friendly solutions in pest protection. To address these challenges and mitigate the detrimental effects of chemical pesticides, this review explores sustainable, alternative solutions, like biological control agents (BCAs), for tomato pest control in the WB region. With biological control gaining recognition as an effective approach, yet remaining underutilized in the WB, this review provides a thorough analysis of the most effective, commercially available BCAs, critically evaluating their advantages and limitations. Widespread BCA application could support the expansion of the tomato production sector while fostering sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, the review explores the role of BCAs within Integrated Pest Management (IPM) frameworks in tomato production, emphasizing their alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly for countries aiming for EU integration.

The accessible literature covered in this paper commonly highlights psyllids as a significant group of insects affecting pear trees, posing a continual challenge for commercial orchards. With the development of modern pear cultivation systems, Cacopsylla pyri Linnaeus 1758 (Hemiptera: Psyllidae) has emerged as a major pest in pear orchards across many European countries, including those in the Western Balkans. For years, the agricultural sector has primarily relied on chemical insecticides to control pear psyllas, but these methods often fail to produce satisfactory results. This is largely due to C. pyri’s rapid development of resistance to chemical treatments. Consequently, modern agriculture is increasingly shifting towards biological methods to manage C. pyri, involving the identification and conservation of its natural enemies. Although there is an abundance of research on the natural predators of C. pyri and their biocontrol applications across the globe, the Western Balkan region has conducted relatively few studies on the subject. Globally, various parasitoids, predators, and entomopathogenic fungi are often cited as effective against C. pyri. Specific species registered in the agroecological conditions of the Western Balkans include parasitic wasps such as Trechnites insidiosus Crawford, 1910 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and Prionomitus mitratus Dalman, 1820 (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae), as well as the predatory bug Anthocoris nemoralis Fabricius, 1794 (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae). However, most Balkan countries have yet to fully utilise the potential of beneficial entomofauna or develop strategies for their commercial application at a national level. Considering that C. pyri is a major pest in pear cultivation and its natural enemies have not been thoroughly explored in most of the Western Balkans, this paper aims to review the literature data on available natural enemies of pear psyllas and to highlight and promote their undeniable potential in biological control.