Chapter 4 - Role of kairomones in biological control of pests: commercial potential

Abstract

The use of kairomone-based lures as biological control strategies aids in attracting and retaining natural enemies for insect pest population suppression. The addition of semiochemicals to attract biological control agents such as parasitoids, predators and entomopathogens could amplify the dispersal of these agents resulting in more efficient foraging and strengthening their contribution to sustainable biological control of crop pests in the agroecosystems. Although, research into integrating semiochemicals and biological control has gained momentum in recent years, there is need to incorporate these semiochemicals known to affect key biological control agents in laboratory into commercial products that are cost effective and competitive in the market-place. The speed of such incorporation of semiochemicals into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) could be enhanced by simplifying the registration process for such compounds. Also, cost-effectiveness studies of such new products under field conditions should be carried out by economists and other experts from commercial companies to reduce the burden on researchers. There is need for better training of all stakeholders including researchers and producers on regulatory policies, governing product registration, legislation, and commercial constraints on development and marketing of such products, any of which might, if unfavorable, hinder successful commercialization of these products. Additionally, funding for citizen education on this new class of agro-compounds and their safety should be part of the strategy to market these products.