Mr David Hidalgo | Biological pest control |  Best Researcher Award

David Adrián Hidalgo Mata is an accomplished agricultural engineer and entomologist specializing in biological pest control. He earned his degree in Agricultural Engineering in 2004 from Universidad de las Fuerzas Armadas (ESPE) in Ecuador and later pursued a Master of Science in Entomology, graduating from the National Agrarian University La Molina (UNALM) in Peru in 2019. David’s research focuses on developing sustainable pest management methods, including biological control tools, the rearing of predatory and parasitoid insects, and the use of entomopathogenic nematodes and fungi. His notable publications, such as the Manual for the Production of Entomopathogenic Fungi and Quality Analysis of Bioformulated Products, reflect his commitment to advancing eco-friendly pest control solutions. Recognized internationally, David was selected as a USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Scientific Exchange Program fellow, conducting impactful research on tick control technologies at North Carolina State University. He is an active member of both the Entomological Society of Ecuador and the Entomological Society of Peru, contributing to the advancement of agricultural science in Latin America.