Biopestizide
Biopesticides are pesticides derived from natural materials such as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. They include substances like microbial pesticides, plant-incorporated protectants (PIPs), and biochemical pesticides. Microbial pesticides consist of microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, viruses, or protozoa. These microorganisms have their own mechanisms to control pests. Plant-incorporated protectants are substances that plants produce after being genetically modified to contain pesticidal traits. Biochemical pesticides are derived from natural materials and work through non-toxic mechanisms, such as pheromones to disrupt mating or plant extracts that repel insects.
The use of biopesticides offers several potential advantages. They are often specific to the target pest, meaning