Biopesticides: A Need for Food and Environmental Safety

What is it about?

Biopesticide is a formulation made from naturally occurring substances that controls pests by non toxic mechanisms and in ecofriendly manner; hence gaining importance all over the world. Biopesticides may be derived from animals (e.g. nematodes), plants (Chrysanthemum, Azadirachta) and micro-organisms (e.g. Bacillus thuringiensis, Trichoderma, nucleopolyhedrosis virus), and include living organisms (natural enemies), their products (phytochemicals, microbial products) or byproducts (semiochemicals) which can be used for the management of pests injurious [4]. The time-tested indigenous technical knowledge (ITK) of using natural materials for the control of pests has been very effective; but due to the introduction and uses of chemical pesticides many ITKs have been forgotten. Biopesticides pose less threat to the environment and human health. They are generally less toxic than chemical pesticides, often target specific, have little or no residual effects and have acceptability for use in organic farming.

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Why is it important?

The green revolution technology characterized by the use of high yielding varieties, chemical fertilizers, pesticides and water have resulted in a phenomenal growth in agricultural productivity. While the gains have been very impressive, the input intensive agriculture has resulted in some undesirable effects on the environment and the overall sustainability of the farming systems. The use of synthetic chemical pesticides has severely affected both the abiotic and biotic components of the environment. While the former is exemplified by pesticide residues in soil, air, water, food etc., the latter includes phytotoxicity, physiological deformities, diseases, mortality, population changes, genetic disorders, gene erosion, etc. in plants, mammals, avian, insects and other organisms. Entry of chemical pesticides into the food chain coupled with their bioaccumulation triggers several unforeseen consequences. DDT (dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane), a modern chemical insecticide, was extensively used in protection of crops, forests and controlling insect-vectors of human diseases. As a contact poison against several arthropods, it was effectively used to combat mosquitoes spreading malaria, typhus and other insect-borne diseases. The indiscriminately used chemical insecticide led to the contamination of water and food sources, poisoning of non-target beneficial insects and development of insect populations resistant to the insecticide.

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