Analysts expect the global biopesticides market to grow from $ 3,8 billion in 2018 to nearly $ 10 billion by 2025, with an annual growth of 17%. About 30% of the plant protection products that are currently available are biological, and more than 50% of the new products being registered are also in this area. Nevertheless, with regard to biopesticides, there is still a problem of proven effectiveness - not all of them can pass the same stringent requirements that regulators place on agrochemistry. Biopesticide developers think it might make sense to lower the bar
Biopesticides are now in the spotlight and are seen as an alternative to traditional plant protection products, as many popular agrochemical products in several countries are being withdrawn from the market.
Dr. Minshad Ansari, Founder and CEO at Bionema, a biopesticidal technology company, UK, explains why the global agro-industrial complex needs new biopesticides.
“Despite significant growth in the biocontrol industry, there is an urgent need to develop new products, formulations and delivery systems for plants. It is necessary not only to “fill in the gaps” in the market for plant protection products due to the prohibition of a large number of pesticides, but also to anticipate future requirements as pests develop resistance to currently used drugs. In addition, there is growing demand from consumer-oriented retailers of crop products who require vegetables or fruits with fewer pesticide residues.
The eco-friendly natural alternatives to chemical pesticides that we have used for decades to control pests and diseases and increase yields are transforming the industry. We can say that we are entering a new era of "pure" agronomy, when biopesticides will occupy a large part of the crop protection market - they currently occupy a niche of only 10%. In fact, I believe biopesticides can increase their market share by 20% over the next ten years.
Clearly, we have reached a tipping point. The public is better aware or more actively expressing their expectations when it comes to the impact of agricultural practices on the environment. And public scrutiny is a very powerful engine for the practice of the biopesticidal industry.
Companies like ours are developing biopesticides to protect crops from pests and diseases and reduce the use of synthetic pesticides.
There is a reliable science, there is a will and, to some extent, more and more means to provide effective new products. The remaining obstacles are mainly associated with the slow pace of regulation and licensing of these products for the market.
Over the past few decades, there have been many changes in the pesticide industry, including with regard to insecticides, the use of which has been growing since the 1960s, but now it has become obvious - with all the advantages and merits of chemical insecticides in food safety, they also have many disadvantages : risks to human health and the environment, increased resistance to active substances in harmful insects.
But there are alternatives. For example, biocontrol using entomophages has already confirmed its effectiveness. In Spanish Almeria, on an area of 30 hectares, which produce fruits and vegetables consumed throughout Europe, farmers produce ticks against the parasites of pepper, tomato and squash. And at the moment, the use of insecticides in Almeria, according to local authorities, has decreased by 000% since 40.
But regulatory barriers are complex, and there are ongoing challenges. Regulators require a quantitative assessment and confirmation of the effectiveness of biopesticides, they require that biopesticides present minimal or zero risk, there are toxicological and ecotoxicological assessments and other stringent tests.
Such requirements and tests are carried out for chemical pesticides, but they may not be suitable for biopesticides.
These tests were carried out for chemical pesticides, but they may not be suitable for biopesticides. Meeting current requirements can be prohibitively expensive for bio-pesticide developers and slow down product commercialization.
Therefore, the task of the regulatory body is to create an appropriate system for evaluating biopesticides, which ensures their safety and consistency, but does not impede commercialization. And I believe that this is possible. "