Experience acquired over the last 40 years in preventive control of the Desert Locust as well as the lessons learnt from the two last invasions that started in 1987 and 2003 reveals the complexity of problems in this fight. We advocate a thorough consideration of the organisational dimensions of the struggle to control this invasive biological aggressor. The objective of our work is to promote efficiency by questioning the management of risks relating to this pest, taking into account the social, organisational, and cultural rationalities in which collective action is located. Until now biological, ecological, and economic rationalities have ruled the cognitive framework for risk management and control. Analysis of the modes of structuring and analysis of the governance over systems of multi-level stakeholders who carry through and organise collective action for effective survey and control is thus essential to re-thinking and re-designing an efficient management system as well as integrating sustainable objectives. Better knowledge will promote understanding of the causes of malfunctions and inconsistencies in current management settings. A preventive management plan that fits a long term sustainable perspective will engage a pragmatic approach that integrates an analysis of the various logics at work as well as the routines and specific actions organised through control systems. The biophysical and ecological mechanisms are also taken into account. Finally, this perspective necessitates the opening of a new field of study into locust control that would answer issues raised about Desert Locust management and include conceptual, methodological and operational perspectives. (Texte intégral)