When it comes to managing pests it's about taking an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Whilst synthetic plant protection products (PPPs) remain an important part of that approach, they are not the only tool available to farmers.
Growers choose the best combination of cultural, crop solutions and biological measures to control pests.
Biopesticides are becoming an increasingly important part of IPM and an area in which our members are focusing their research and development to bring new innovations to market.
Biopesticides are derived directly from or are based on nature and cover a wide spectrum of potential PPPs that can be grouped into 3 main categories:
- Pheromones and other semiochemical
- Natural substances, such as botanical extracts and biochemicals.
- Microorganisms, for example bacterium, fungus, protozoa, virus.
Many biopesticides are residue-exempt and are therefore not required to be routinely monitored in crops by regulatory authorities or retailers. As part of an IPM programme Biopesticides can provide additional crop protection tools to help growers reduce the evolution of pesticide resistance as many biopesticides have multiple modes of action.
With nature as a starting point, we have more opportunities to develop substances with favourable toxicological, safety profiles, low residue levels and rapid degradation. Innovation is making biopesticides easier to discover, more targeted, safer, and more effective than ever before.