The quest for new classes of synthetic chemicals with insecticidal activity continues. Research today focuses more than ever before on finding products that are effective as insecticides and less harmful to beneficial non-target organisms. Reduced persistence and non-target toxicity are key objectives of screening programs. Insect resistance management efforts are well organized and are impacting screening programs to consider resistant pest issues in selecting candidates for development. Novel modes of activity to improve insecticide resistance management efforts are a major objective of chemical and biological screening programs.
While the use of biological pesticides has seen considerable growth in the last few decades, many in the industry are not optimistic that previous predictions of continued increase in the use of these products will be realized. Many are pointing out that recent increases in grower adoption have not met past predictions. Performance below grower expectations is a primary issue cited by skeptics. The assumption is that we have reached some sort of peak level of performance and that continued improvements in how to formulate them, when and how to apply them and precisely where in each treatment program they best fit have reached an apex and further improvements are not likely.
The development of GMO crops has somewhat overshadowed the continued development of biological products. It is difficult to compete for recognition with a concept like GMO crops that has captured more than 95% of the total acreage in several major crops including cotton, corn and soybeans. The growth in interest in biological insecticides has continued. There are still major arguments for the need to continue to search for and develop new biological pesticides and improve the existing arsenal of biologicals. There are still many secondary pests that become critical targets when GMO use is successful in eliminating a primary pest.
Now and for the foreseeable future there will be greater emphasis in developing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems that incorporate the most effective combinations of synthetic chemicals, biological products and crop management practices to manage pest populations. As always, the goals are to optimize grower return on investment (ROI) and minimize environmental impact of production practices.
There has been a great deal of discussion in recent months that more emphasis needs to be placed on optimizing performance of biological insecticides through better understanding of their modes of action and how to use them most effectively in pest management systems.
Future research will increase efforts to identify mechanisms of action for biologicals. The environmental benefits, reduced toxicity to non-target organisms, including humans, and other benefits of biologicals have been well established, and future research will focus more on how to use them for optimum efficacy against target pests while enjoying the well-established other benefits of using biologicals. Today, biological insecticides are being developed and are produced more consistently and economically due to advances in production. Formulation technology has improved biological insecticide performance, and we are beginning to learn how to utilize them.
The future of biologicals will be more complex as we learn more about when they work or do not work. The industry will continue to gain skill at predicting when to use them effectively and when they need to be combined with other control measures for optimum efficacy.
Biological pesticides usually have an advantage over synthetic chemicals in reduced cost and shortened timelines for the regulatory process. This advantage will support continued increase in interest in biological products. We will also see a movement to accept that the timeline for development and implementation of new technology in pest control is longer than anticipated in the infancy of this field. This is true for all major technological innovations of the past, and biological management of pests is no different. Advances in information technology, especially artificial intelligence, will speed up the process but not as much as the industry would like to see.
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