Comparative Advantage of Using Bio-pesticides in Indian Agro-ecosystems

Abstract

The use of unsustainable levels of plant protection chemicals and fertilizershas resulted in a steady decline in soil quality and crop productivity the world over. To combat this decline, agricultural practices must evolve to meet the growing global demand for food without irreversibly damaging the world’s natural resources.Biopesticides have tremendous potential to bring sustainability to agriculture and environmental safety.This article is part of a larger study conducted in India by the authors at theUniversité de Montréal with the support of Mitacs and Earth Alive Clean Technologies. In this research, farmers, manufacturers or suppliers of biopesticides, and R&D scientistswere interviewed, and their responses demonstratethe advantages of applyingmicrobial biopesticidesto field crops. Participants reported a15-30% increase in yields and crop production after the application ofbiopesticides, with better quality and quantity of fruits, grains, and tubers with a longer shelf life. Moreover, while the risk of croploss is high (60-70%) with chemicallygrown crops, this risk is reduced to 33% on average when crops are grown using biopesticides. The risk of crop loss is thus considerably reducedby the use ofbiopesticides.Yet, despite their positive impact on the health of humans, soil,ecosystems, andfriendly invertebrates,biopesticides face significant challenges and competition vis-à-vis synthetic pesticides for a variety of reasons. The development of biopesticides must overcome the problems of improper formulations, short shelf life, delayed action, and high market costs, as well as a variety oflegal/registration issues.