Alternatives of Pesticides

Abstract

Worldwide, synthetic chemicals have been extensively used for the last few decades to protect crops for increasing their production and quality. It is found that chemical pesticides pose long term danger to the environment and humans, and they are ecologically unacceptable. Hence, an increased social pressure prevails pesticide use and creates pressure to replace them gradually with biopesticides, which are safe to humans and non-target organisms. Biopesticides possess an extensive variety of microbial pesticides, biochemicals derived from microorganisms and other natural sources. Biopesticides also include processes involving genetic modification of plants. Biopesticides have been proven effective to control target pest without altering ecological balance, however, there are different barriers exist to make biopesticides more effective. To overcome these barriers, many agricultural societies have adapted and implemented other alternative contextures, such as cultural tactics, physical, mechanical and biological tactics, and behavioral controls using semiochemicals and transgenic crops. This chapter outlines different alternative tactics of pest management including biopesticide options, their ecological and health impacts, and market trend, and future prospects considering technical advances and regulatory requirements.