Chapter 14 - Biopesticide commercialization in African countries: successful case studies

Abstract

The consciousness of shifting away from synthetic pesticides is gathering momentum due to their harmful impact on humans, environmental pollution, and biodiversity reduction of beneficial organisms. While the developing countries match action with consciousness in producing commercial biopesticides (the exact substitute for chemical pesticides), Africa tends to do far less in proportion to its potential. Nature has endowed Africa with a copious variety of pesticide plants. These plants are Bobgunnia madagascariensis, Tagetes minuta, Tephrosia, Euphorbia, Azadirachta indica, and Securidaca longependunculata. Research has shown that these plants have phytochemicals that effectively manipulate pests for the overall good of plants and livestock. What is lacking is the determination of investors and governments alike to produce commercial biopesticides in proportion to their continent's potential. However, partnerships between Africa-based agricultural institutions (e.g., the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), and the Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International) and foreign donors and funders have led to the production of commercial biopesticides. Plutella xylostella (the Diamondback Moth; DBM) was mitigated by a Beauveria bassiana-based biopesticide (produced by IITA) for the protection and increased output of commercial cabbage farming in the Republic of Benin. More of this success story is expected across Africa, but only a handful of commercial biopesticides are available due to some limiting factors such as poor governance and private investors' interest in biopesticide production; regulatory bottlenecks; lack of technical facilities and knowhow; and a lack of information on the relationship between plant phylogeny and pathogen specificity. As highlighted in this chapter, there are a few hundred commercial biopesticides in the African continent, which is disproportionate to its potential. Thus, African countries must step up their game in producing commercial biopesticides to advance the call for sustainable development through agriculture.