精东影业

When it comes to controlling pests, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has been an increasingly popular strategy for farmers around the globe. Farmers practicing IPM combine crop protection products, insect resistant traits, habitat modifications, changes to agricultural practices, and resistant hybrid varieties to boost crop health and yield potential. By utilizing multiple tools and practices farmers can successfully manage pests in a way that is economically and environmentally sensitive.

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Naturally derived pesticides, those that come from nature like microorganisms and pheromones, are a growing part of farmers鈥� IPM strategies.

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For example, while Reynoutria sachalinensis, or giant knotweed, is considered a nuisance to farmers, the extract of this plant can prevent the growth of some fungi, improve root growth and chlorophyll production in staple crops like corn, soybeans, peanuts, and more.

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Today鈥檚 new developments in sustainable crop protection are tackling pest problems on a larger scale, and some have surprising origins.
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Scaling up pheromones

Some researchers have been working on scaling up synthetic production of female insect pheromones so they can be used in row crops to manage populations of certain pest species of Lepidoptera populations. David Llobet Calaf of BioPhero explains that 鈥渇emale [Lepidoptera] leave a 鈥榖loom鈥� of species-specific pheromone which attracts males for mating. But if we put a similar bloom throughout the air, the male won鈥檛 be able to find them.鈥� With reproduction interrupted, the targeted pest鈥檚 population is reduced.

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Pheromones have been used for many years in Europe on crops like apples and grapes, but researchers are now working on creating products for commodity crops as well. Calaf notes that 鈥減roducts are being developed in South America for corn and sugarcane, and in China for rice. Calaf is hopeful that, given their success and wide-spread adoption in Europe, farmers around the world will take up the use of pheromones quickly.

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Compatible with other crop protection tools, pheromones can easily be incorporated into a farmer鈥檚 IPM program. For example, insecticide applications made to control outbreaks of the targeted pests can be followed with pheromone releases to maintain populations below economically damaging levels.

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Historically, cost has been the primary roadblock to large-scale use of these products, but advances in technology have helped. Instead of using traditional synthetic chemistry pathways, these products can use the chemistry of fermentation鈥攕imilar to the production process at your favorite microbrewery. This production process helps reduce costs making these products more competitive in the market.
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Bacteria with bite

Biopesticides and bio-control agents are especially desirable, as more consumers become interested in purchasing products made with naturally derived ingredients. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), a soil bacterium, is a well-known global success story when it comes to selectively managing pests. Individual strains of this bacterium can target specific insects or closely related groups of insects, making it ideal for eliminating pests while protecting beneficial insects.

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Whether it鈥檚 applied topically as a crop protection product, or its genes are integrated into crops themselves through genetics, Bt can be an important tool. But Bt鈥檚 best characteristic may be what it doesn鈥檛 do: a .

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Still, this agricultural superhero has its kryptonite: Bt resistant insects are on the rise due to its widespread use. To combat this issue, farmers use IPM strategies to rotate and alter their pest management tools鈥攗ltimately attacking the targeted pests with multiple modes of action. This approach reduces the pest鈥檚 ability to build resistance traits.

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And innovation continues. Scientists are now looking at an additional tool called RNA interference, which in the future may be used in combination with Bt to provide another layer of defense against insects. The EPA approved an RNAi pesticide for the first time in 2017, , its widespread use could be right around the corner.

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Effective pest management and sustainability go hand in hand, and with the tenets of IPM, farmers are only getting better at protecting crops with solutions that are both environmentally and economically beneficial. And, as new innovations emerge to support forward-thinking pest management strategies, we can continue to build up our capabilities to care for crops, and our environment, at any scale.