Potential of biopesticides in agriculture

Abstract All living organisms are subject to predation, parasitism or competition from other organisms. The study of these interactions has led to the identification of many potential opportunities for the use of living organisms as biopesticides to protect agricultural crops against insect pests, fungal, bacterial and viral diseases, weeds, nematodes and mollusc pests. A range of biopesticide products (including as active agents bacteria, fungi, nematodes, protozoa, viruses and beneficial insects) are now available commercially for control of insect pests, fungal and bacterial diseases and weeds. However, world biopesticide sales in 1990 were estimated to be $120 million, representing less than 0–5% of the world agrochemical market. Over 90% of biopesticide sales are represented by a single product type, containing Bacillus thuringiensis Berl., for control of insect pests. Nevertheless, biopesticide sales are estimated to be increasing at 10–25% per annum whilst the world agrochemical market is static or even shrinking. There has been a significant renewal of commercial interest in biopesticides as evidenced by the substantial number of alliances forged between major agrochemical companies and biotechnology companies which allow these major companies access to marketing rights to novel biopesticides. This paper reviews the current commercial status of biopesticides and discusses the technical and commercial constraints which have impeded development of biopesticides in the past. Novel developments in R&D, which may enable some of these constraints to be overcome, are examined by reference to a number of specific examples (some of which arise from the author's own experience in a biotechnology company). The future prospects for biopesticides are discussed in the light of technical advances and commercial and regulatory requirements.