Biopesticides

Biopesticides are pesticides that are derived from naturally occurring resources such as those from plants, animals, bacteria and certain minerals. There are many household products or those that you can make at home that are consider biopesticides such as hot pepper sauce, garlic, canola oil, and baking soda. Because they have pesticidal uses they are then considered biopesticides. In the world of commercial pesticides, biopesticides refers to a line of products that are derived from natural sources as opposed to synthetic chemicals for the control of pests in agriculture. Biopesticides are considered less toxic that chemical pesticides and therefore are more ecologically sound and less damaging to the surrounding environment. Most biopesticides only affect the targeted pest, as well as any pests that may be closely related to that organism.

This is as opposed to synthetic pesticides that are far more ranging in their toxicity and can affect the fish in streams, birds, beneficial insects and even mammals. Biopesticides tend to result in less pollution because they break down much quicker than conventional pesticides and because they are effective in small quantities, pollution problems are limited. Biopesticides tend to be very targeted and have a specific mode of action and are designed to suppress rather than eliminate a pest populations. There are three different classes of biopesticides; Microbial pesticides, plant-incorporated-protectants and biochemical pesticides. Microbial pesticides contain a bacterium, fungus, virus, or other microorganism that act as the active ingredient that controls the targeted substance such as pests or weeds. Microbial pesticides control by producing a toxin that is specific to the target, by causing a disease, or preventing the establishment of other microorganisms. Bacillus thuringiensis is the most common of microbial pesticides, a naturally occurring bacteria in the soil it is toxic to a number of insects. Plant-incorporated-protectants are substances that are produced in the plant that are pesticidal in nature that can be then genetically added to plants.

The Bt pesticidal protein that is added to the plants genetic material can then destroy the targeted pest. These biopesticides are regulated by the EPA but the plants that are produced from them are not. Biochemical biopesticides have a non toxic mechanism by which they function unlike chemical pesticides whose only function is to kill. They are usually made from naturally occurring chemicals. A good example is the pheromones of insects, which are used by insects to help them find mates. A biochemical pesticide can be made from a man made pheromone that is used to disrupt insect mating either by creating confusion or by attracting the males into insect traps. Because biopesticides are generally much less toxic to the environment and people they are under much less stringent standards by the EPA, while most chemical pesticides can take up to three years to get registered with the EPA biopesticides are often registered in a year or less. This does not mean that these pesticides are not thoroughly tested though to ensure safety for humans and the environment. Marrone Bio Innovations is a leading researcher and developer in the biopesticides field. Manufacturers of a fungicide and herbicide, MBI prides itself on finding environmentally responsible solutions to pest management.