Why Pesticides are shifting to natural
For years, pesticides have gotten a bad reputation for being harsh chemicals that harm the environment. People claim that these substances hurt people, animals and as of late, the bee population. Because of this, major pesticides companies have been tied up in lawsuits against environmental agencies that are trying to protect the land. Yet farmers argue that they need to protect their crops from pests, or else they won't be able to successfully grow and sell much of anything. So what are people to do?
Enter natural pesticides. These pesticides do the same work as chemical pesticides, but they are much less harmful on the environment, keeping activists quiet and cases out of court. The different suggested formulas have been so successful that even big companies such as Monsanto and Bayer are getting in on it. Some of these formulas use natural sources, such as soil microbes, plant extracts and spider venom, to help keep pests away. This is a little different than farmers who simply rotate their crops and alternate their soil, which has actually been proven to cause runoff and lower rates of plant growth.
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These products have reached "critical mass," according to Sara Olson, an analyst at the market research firm Lux Research, who argues that these products are helping to revolutionize the way people look at crop and plant protection and pesticides in general.
Now, companies are working to zone in on the most successful natural deterrents out there. However, when you consider weeding through a handful of soil looking for the successful bacteria, this project isn't easy. Luckily, there's some history around some bacteria that farmers and scientists are using as a springboard. One bacteria that farmers have used for years to keep away pests is known as Bacillus thuringiensis, which has a gene known for killing insects. The bacteria has been around for so long that some farmers have even engineered this bacteria to grow within crops to keep pests away before they even take a bite.
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Yet people want, and need, more than one type of bacteria to make natural pesticides a common use. That is why companies like Monsanto are putting thousands of dollars into research so they can quickly discover other soil bacteria that might harm hungry pests. The pesticide giant has partnered with Novozymes to help determine if 2,000 different types of bacteria can help fend of pests, and if they can't, which ones can. Right now, the company wants to find out which natural deterrents can keep away insects, fungus and even other types of harmful bacteria. Monsanto is not the only one funding an investigation into finding crop microbiomes. Bayer and DuPont have also joined the fight.
While some companies are looking for pest killers, others are looking for natural ways to boost crop growth and production. Yet finding biostimulants also has been a tricky search, with companies testing several types of plant extracts to find the right one.
Though big companies have gotten involved, so have small ones, like Indigo, a startup based in Cambridge, Massachusetts who are currently hunting for plant microbiomes. if successful, they know it will be the next big thing.
"If we're right about this technology and it has the sort of impact we think it does, the plant microbiome is going to be worth tens of billions of dollars and it will fundamentally reshape agriculture," David Perry, CEO of Indigo, told Fortune magazine.
Hopefully, they are all right, chemical pesticides will be a thing of the past.
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About The Author
Susan Massie, Sales & Marketing Director, Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals Email: sue@greyhoundchrom.com
Susan Massie is the Sales & Marketing Director for Greyhound Chromatography and Allied Chemicals, affectionately known as 'Greyhound' in our scientific community. Greyhound was founded by Susan's husband Paul Massie more than 40 years ago, Susan hasn't been in the business for all of that time but has been involved with Greyhound for over 19 years. Greyhound continues to grow, expanding into new markets and taking on the challenges of our ever changing environment. It's heartwarming to witness the world waking up to the fact that we are damaging our planet on a daily basis. Every action we take has a direct effect on our planet and the world we leave behind for future generations. Susan is passionate about climate change and is happy to work in an industry that can have a direct effect on reducing the impact of our actions on the environment. All of the team at Greyhound take our responsibilities very seriously, the products that we supply are used by the world's leading scientists and chemists as they endeavour to monitor and repair the environment. All is not lost, if we all take responsibility for our actions, from reducing our waste and reusing or recycling our material collateral we can make a difference. The internet is full of useful advice and guidance, Susan is proud to contribute to that wealth of knowledge whenever she can.
Greyhound prides itself on personal service which provides prompt, efficient, cost-effective, safe delivery of all products. Greyhound provides technical advice and distribution of Certified Reference Standards and Materials, Laboratory Consumables, Solvents and Reagents across all scientific disciplines. Greyhound Chromatography offers over 1 Million products from its UK warehouse. The team at Greyhound are proud to support the work of the world's leading scientists and chemists as they challenge the abuse of our planet and try to make a difference to the world we leave behind for our ancestors.
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