NewsRescue
Biopesticides are pest control chemicals made from natural materials like plant, animal and microbe products.
These agents have several advantages compared to conventional pesticides (Kaya and Lacey 2007, Kaya and Vega 2012). Artificial pesticides are typically made from toxic substances which pollute the environment, poison plants, potentially poisoning people and animals that feed on these plants. They pollute water and the environment in general. Many conventional pesticides have been found to be teratogenic, increasing the risk of cancer in the populace and are banned in many western countries.
As the locust invasion continues to cause havoc on East Africa, the governments have been spraying several chemicals with airplanes. While these may help with reducing the locust invasion, the harmful effects of these chemicals on the environment may outlive the locust invasion.
Pesticides have been blamed for a global fall in bee populations. This has been a major source of concern as bees are essential for pollination and human survival.
Green technology companies offer natural alternatives that may be better solutions to combating pest outbreaks like the current locust “plague.”
#EastAfrica is seeing the worst #LocustInvasion in 25 years.#Africa #LocustPlague pic.twitter.com/zvQnqXTSAe
— teleSUR English (@telesurenglish) January 30, 2020
It is time for governments and farmers and the technology industry to prioritize the use of natural and organic, non hazardous biopesticides.
The Environmental Protection Agency strongly promotes the use of Biopesticides and lists their advantages:
- Biopesticides are usually inherently less toxic than conventional pesticides.
- Biopesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects and mammals.
- Biopesticides often are effective in very small quantities and often decompose quickly, resulting in lower exposures and largely avoiding the pollution problems caused by conventional pesticides.
- When used as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, biopesticides can greatly reduce the use of conventional pesticides, while crop yields remain high.
We strongly advocate for green solutions.
Green Earth Technology Global describes BioPesticide:
