Biopesticides for sustainable agriculture

“There is a strong need to review the latest advances in the science and application of biopesticides. With its excellent lineup of authors, this book will inform and inspire researchers, product developers, registration specialists and IPM experts in institutes as well as industry to develop innovative crop protection tools for the new agriculture that society needs.“ (Dr Willem Ravensberg, Corporate Senior Regulatory and Government Affairs Manager – Koppert Biological Systems; past-President of the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) With increasing concern about the environmental impact of synthetic pesticide use, including their impact on beneficial insects, the problem of insect resistance and the lack of new products, there has been in increasing interest in developing alternative biopesticides to control insect and other pests. This collection reviews the wealth of research on identifying, developing, assessing and improving the growing range of biopesticides. Part 1 of this collection reviews research on developing new biopesticides in such areas as screening new compounds, ways of assessing effectiveness in the field and improving regulatory approval processes. Part 2 summarises advances in different types of entomopathogenic biopesticide including entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes and the use Bt genes in insect-resistant crops. Part 3 assesses the use of semiochemicals such as pheromones and allelochemicals, peptide-based and other natural substance-based biopesticides. With its distinguished editors and international team of chapter authors, Biopesticides for sustainable agriculture will be a standard reference for university researchers in entomology and integrated pest management (IPM), government and other bodies responsible for regulating biopesticides and supporting the use of IPM, as well as companies involved in developing biopesticide products. Professor Nick Birch is a Senior Research Entomologist leading research in integrated pest and disease management at the internationally-renowned James Hutton Research Institute, UK. He has been involved in a range of EU and other international IPM research, is Visiting Professor at the University of Idaho and has written widely on such topics as the role of on-farm biodiversity in promoting pest predators in IPM. Dr Travis Glare is Professor of Applied Entomology and Director of the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University, New Zealand. He has an international reputation and has published widely in the field of entomopathogenic microbes and use of biopesticides. He has worked on a range of international projects to develop novel biopesticides.