Biopesticides - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 588

TABLE 19.1
Problems Associated with Chemical Pesticides
• Persistence
• Bioaccumulation
• Biomagnifications
• Chronic and acute toxicity
• Resistance
• Secondary pest outbreak
• Environmental contamination
• Effect on nontarget and beneficial organisms

TABLE 19.2
Different Types of Biopesticides
• Microbial organisms
• Plant-derived pesticides
• Secondary metabolites from microbes
• Insect growth and behavioral regulator
• Genetic modification

TABLE 19.3
Pros and Cons of Biopesticides in Comparison with
Conventional Pesticides

Advantages Disadvantages

Less toxic Short shelf-life

Biodegrade quickly Limited field persistence

More targeted to specific pest Narrow target range

Specific mode of action Narrower target range

Mange rather than irradiate Slower acting

Biopesticides : According to US EPA, biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural
materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and minerals. They include microbial pesti-
cides, entomopathogenic nematodes, baculoviruses, plant-derived pesticides, and insect
pheromones, the latter when used as mating disruption agents receive increased exposure
in scientific annals (Menn 1996, 1997; Table 19.2).
Some common benefits and disadvantages of biopesticides in comparison with conven-
tional pesticides are shown in Table 19.3.

19.1 Global Biopesticide Market
Annual sales of microbial pesticides are reported to be US $750 million globally, amount-
ing only to 2.5% of the chemical market (Evans 2008). The global market for biopesticides