Biopesticides - Pesticides: Evaluation of Environmental Pollution - page 589

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2008 2009 2014

Synthetic pesticides Biopesticides

FIGURE 19.1
Projected global pesticide market by segment, 2008-2014.

is forecast to reach US $2.8 billion by the year 2015. This segment is expected to grow at
a 15.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from $1.6 billion in 2009 to $3.3 billion
in 2014. Key factors driving market growth include increasing environmental concerns
and consumer inclination toward chemical-free crops. Other factors propelling market
growth include introduction of new products, acceptance of substitutes to conventional
pesticides, and declining market for harmful organophosphate insecticides.
The United States represents the largest region for biopesticides worldwide, as stated by
the new market research report on biopesticides (Figure 19.1). On the other hand, with a
CAGR of more than 15% over the analysis period, Europe represents the fastest growing
regional market for biopesticides. Europe lags behind the United States in terms of regis-
tered biopesticides with 77 active substances as of 2008 against 279 in the United States.
The wide difference between the two leading biopesticides consumers could be attributed
to highly fragmented nature of European market and biopesticides being relatively newer
concept for the consumers in the region. Further, the government support for capacity
development of biopesticides places the US market ahead of any other region in the world.
Asia-Pacific constitutes the other leading market, with biopesticides sales projected to
reach US $362 million in 2012 ( Figure 19.2 ).

19.2 Microbial Pesticides
Microbial biopesticides are products derived from various microscopic organisms.
Microbial products may consist of the organisms themselves and/or the metabolites they
produce. They suppress pests either by producing a toxin specific to the pests, causing
disease, preventing establishment of other microorganisms through competition, or vari-
ous other modes of action (Clemson HGIC 2007). For all crop types, bacterial biopesticides
claim about 74% of the market; fungal biopesticides, about 10%; viral biopesticides, 5%;
predator biopesticides, 8%; and “other” biopesticides, 3% (Thakore 2006). At present there
are approximately 73 microbial active ingredients that have been registered by the US EPA.