Biotechnology is future path for crop protection

Abstract

end of 20th century is witnessing an evolution in pesticide industry. Traditional insect and weed control by chemicals will not totally disappear, but an inexorable shift is being made to biological controls and genetic engineering. future of pesticides was main topic at spring conference of American Crop Protection Association (ACPA) held recently in Washington, D.C. But speakers there offered no tales of new toxic chemicals or greater productivity. Their stories instead were of increased research on enzyme controls for insects and improved herbicideresistant crops. Biotechnology and new pest management strategies are where industry is headed. At agricultural chemical companies, the convergence of genetics, molecular modeling, biology, and biochemistry is creating opportunities, said Mark Atwood, president of agricultural products research division of American Cyanamid, Wayne, N.J. The differences between synthetic and natural products are becoming blurred. A major...