pesticidi

Pesticidi are substances or organisms used to prevent, destroy, or control pests that threaten crops, stored products, or human health. They include chemical products as well as biological agents and may target insects, weeds, fungi, bacteria, rodents, and other unwanted organisms.

Pesticidi are categorized by the pest they control: insecticides for insects; herbicides for weeds; fungicides for fungi; rodenticides for rodents; nematicides for nematodes; miticides for mites. Biological pesticides include living organisms such as Bacillus thuringiensis-based products, pheromone traps, and beneficial microbes. Plant-incorporated protectants are crops engineered to produce pest-deterring substances.

Applications span agriculture and horticulture, post-harvest storage, and urban or public health programs (for example, mosquito control). They are delivered in formulations such as sprays, granules, dusts, baits, and seed treatments. Some act systemically within the plant; others act locally on pests on contact or ingestion.

Regulation emphasizes safety and environmental protection. Risk assessment, labeling, and proper use are required in many jurisdictions to protect non-target species, water quality, and human health. International agreements regulate trade and restrict particularly hazardous substances.

Integrated pest management (IPM) promotes monitoring, cultural practices, biological controls, and the cautious, limited use of pesticides to keep pest populations at tolerable levels. History notes that synthetic pesticides became widespread in the 20th century, but concerns about environmental and health effects have driven tighter regulation and renewed emphasis on sustainable alternatives.