Why is biocontrol of common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), the most allergenic weed in Eastern Europe, still only a hope?

This chapter presents the story of a long and as yet unsuccessful struggle to find suitable fungal and/or insect biocontrol agents for ragweed, a plant that became a widespread allergenic weed in Eastern Europe. This effort illustrates why biocontrol initiatives, although desirable, sometimes cannot be implemented into practical control strategies, in spite of the fact that they might represent a realistic solution to problems affecting human health, the environment and agricultural productivity.