Critical Review on Biopesticides in Crop Management

Extensive and inappropriate pesticide use has led to pests developing resistance to major groups of pesticides, resurgence of secondary pests, high pesticide residues in produce and decimation of natural enemies. The adverse effect on human and environmental health cannot be ignored. More and more farmers are coming to realize the short term benefits and long term positive effects of the use of bio agents and other ecologically safe methods to tackle pests. Therefore, alternate eco friendly pest management tactics are needed. The potential benefits to agriculture and public health programs through the use of bio pesticides are considerable. With the increased environmental awareness and the pollution potential and health hazards from many of the conventional pesticides the demand for nature based biopesticides has been steadily increasing worldwide. Biopesticides include a broad array of microbial pesticides, biochemicals derived from microorganisms and other natural sources and processes involving the genetic modification of plants to express genes encoding insecticidal toxins. Thus, this manuscript outlines the types, benefits and opportunities of biopesticides.