1. Ecological farming – a global perspective with special reference to non chemical management of crop pests
B. Vasantharaj David
Chairman – Scientific and Academic Board
International Institute of Biotechnology & Toxicology
Padappai , India

2. Ecological farming
Ecological farming is recognised as the high-end objective among the proponents of sustainable agriculture.
Ecological farming is not same as organic farming, however there are many similarities and they are not necessarily incompatible.
Ecological farming includes all methods, including but not limited to organic, which regenerate ecosystem services like: prevention of soil erosion, water infiltration and retention, carbon sequestration in the form of humus, increased biodiversity etc.. Many techniques are used including no till, multispecies cover crops, strip cropping, terrace cultivation, shelter belts, pasture cropping etc.

3. Non-pesticidal Management (NPM)
NPM describes various pest-control techniques which do not rely on pesticides.
It is used in organic production of foodstuff, as well as in other situations in which the introduction of toxins is undesirable. Instead of the use of synthetic toxins, pest control is achieved by biological means.

4. Non-Pesticidal Management techniques
Introduction of natural predators and parasitoids.
Use of naturally occurring insecticides, such as Neem tree products, Margosa, Tulsi / Basil Leaf, Citrus Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Onion, Garlic spray, Essential Oils. These also refer to as Organic Pesticides.
Use of trap crops which attract the insects away from the fields. The trap crops are regularly checked and pests are manually removed.
Pest larvae which were killed by viruses can be crushed and sprayed over fields, thus killing the remaining larvae.
Field sanitation.
Timely sowing.
Nutrient management.
Maintain proper plant population.
Go for soil solarisation.
Deep summer ploughing.

5. Global Pesticide Market
The global pesticide market was valued at approximately $40 billion in This figure increased to nearly $43 billion in 2009 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% to reach $51 billion in 2014.
Biopesticides represent a strong growth area in the global pesticide market. This segment is expected to grow at a 15.6% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) from $1.6 billion in 2009 to $3.3 billion in 2014.
The biopesticides market is projected to reach USD 6.6 Billion by 2020 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.8% from 2015 to 2020

6. BIOPESTICIDES
Biopesticides are derived from natural sources which include animals, bacteria, plants, and certain minerals. Bt (Bacillus thruingiensis) containing products are the most common type of biopesticides but the plant-incorporated protectants (PIP) that come from adding genetic material to plants also fall in this category. The global biopesticides market has shown significant growth in the past few years. This trend is anticipated to continue due to increasing consumer awareness about the consumption of organic food and growing usage of biopesticides in order to minimize the environment pollution worldwide.

7. BIOPESTICIDES
Biopesticides are the key components of integrated pest management (IPM) programs and are receiving much attention as a means of reducing the load of synthetic chemical products that are used to control plant pests & diseases.
The objective of improving the commercial feasibility of production and usage of biopesticides is propelling market growth. Moreover, extensive and organized research has resulted in improved formulation techniques, enhanced application methods, and increased ability to produce biopesticides through mass production, and better storage and shelf life capabilities.

8. CATEGORIES OF BIOPESTICIDE MARKET
Global Biopesticides Market, by Product Type
Bioinsecticide
Biofungicide
Bionematicides
Bioherbicides
Global Biopesticides Market, by Active Ingredients Type
Microbial pesticides
Plant-pesticides
Biochemical pesticides
Global Biopesticides Market, by Crop Type
Permanent Crops
Arable Crops
Others ( forage & turf grasses and greenhouse crops )
Global Biopesticides Market, by Application Type
Seed Treatment Application
On Farm Application
Post Harvest Application

9. BIOPESTICIDES AND BIOCONTROL AGENTS
Use of botanical pesticides
Use of microbial pesticides including Plant Incorporated Protectants (PIPs)
Augmentative Biocontrol by Inundative Releases
Pheromones and attractants in pests management

10. USE OF BOTANICAL PESTICIDES
Neem formulations (azadirachtin / nimbicidine) are only botanical pesticides moderately effective against a few pests. Though botanicals possess insecticidal, fungicidal and nematicidal effects, still there is lack of proper development of commercial products. Since the active compounds are chemicals, it is necessary to evaluate the safety of such plant derived chemicals. Stability of the commercial products needs to be looked into. There has been much development in the use of neem for the control of diamond back moth which has developed resistance to conventional insecticides. These have limited use due to their lack of quick knock down effect. Thus farmers resort to mixing neem formulations with chemicals and the purpose of reducing insecticides load is defeated

11. Azadirachtin 5% w/w Min. Neem Extract Concentrate
Approved by CIB for use on Tea for the control of
Caterpillar,
Pink mite,
Red Spider mites,
Thrips
 Azadirachtin 1% Min. E.C. Neem based.
Red Spider mites

12. USE OF MICROBIAL PESTICIDES
Insect pests control
Organism Target pests
Virus
Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus Helicoverpa armigera, Spodoptera litura
Granulosis virus Chilo infuscatellus
Bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis Plutella xylostella, Spodoptera litura
Fungi
Beauveria bassiana Lepidopteran and Coleopteran pests
Metarhizium anisopliae Lepidopteran and Coleopteran pests, Scales, Aphids and Thrips
Lecanicillium lecanii Scales, Aphids and Thrips
Paecilomyces fumasaroseus Whiteflies on cotton

13. USE OF MICROBIAL PESTICIDES
Nematode control
Bacteria
P. fluorescens Inhibits early root penetration of cyst
nematode in sugar beet;
nematodes in banana
Fungus
Paecilomyces lilacinus and Meloidogyne spp., Radopholus similis and
Trichoderma harzianum Heterodera spp.
Myrothecium sp. Meloidogyne spp., R. similis and
Heterodera spp.
For the control of Plutella and Spodoptera Bacillus thuringiensis has gained popularity.

14. BIOPESTICIDES AND IPM
Many farmers use them as part of their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs so they can rely less on higher-risk pesticides and effectively produce higher crop yields and quality with lower impact on the environment.

15. Advantages of using Biopesticides
Maintains the health of the soil and sustain its life by increasing soil organic matter
Generally species specific and are safe to the natural enemies and non target organisms
Biopesticides are less toxic than chemical pesticides and safer to the environment
Microbial pesticides rely upon the potential biochemicals synthesized by the microbes
It requires in small quantities often decompose rapidly, thereby avoids pollution problems

16. Constraints and Issues
Availability at affordable price
Proper education to the farmer
 Conducting large scale on farm trials in diverse agro-ecological zones
 Registration with regulatory authorities is costly and time consuming for small-scale entrepreneurs
Research needed to understand optimum environmental conditions required for efficient performance of biopesticides under field conditions.

17. AUGMENTATIVE BIOCONTROL BY INUNDATIVE RELEASES
Biocontrol agents
 Parasitoids
Trichogramma chilonis Scirpophga incertulas
T. japonicum Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, Platydedra
gossypiella, Helicoverpa armigera,
Chilo infuscatellus and other lepidopterans
Goniozus nephantidis Coconut black headed caterpillar
Trichospilus pupivora Coconut black headed caterpillar
Bracon breviconis Coconut black headed caterpillar
Predators
Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Mealy bugs
Chrysoperla carnea Soft bodied insects
Though several natural enemies of pest species are known their utility in biocontrol programme is limited. The concern is tackling when two or three species occur simultaneously. Mass multiplication technology must be available which can be feasible and economical. Establishment of commercial biocontrol agents supply units must be encouraged.

18. Sugarcane woolly aphid Ceratovacuna lanigera biocontrol Release of either 1000 larvae of Dipha aphidiphora (Lepidoptera) or 2500 larvae of Micromus igorotus (Neuroptera) per hectare controls in days and repeated need base – National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects)

19. PAPAYA MEALY BUG Paracoccus marginatus BIOCONTROL Inoculative release of the exotic parasitoids Acerophagus papayae (Fig. Below), Anagyrus loecki and Psudleptomastix 500 parasitoids of each species per village in the mealy bug infested hot spots; releases may be repeated if necessary (National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects)

20. PHEROMONES AND ATTRACTANTS IN PESTS MANAGEMENT
Pheromones Species specific sex pheromones
Helicoverpa armigera
Spodoptera litura
Earias vittella
Rhynchophorus ferrugineus
Oryctes rhinoceros
Pectinophora gossypiella
Cnaphalocrocis medinalis
Scirpophaga incertulas
Aims at mating disruption by preventing male moths from locating “calling females”. There is need to develop slow release formulations. Trapping male moths facilitates monitoring. Pheromones for rice leaf folder viz. Z,11-Hexadecenyl acetate and Z,13-Octadecenyl acetate at 1:10 in rubber septa or polythene vials are effective. Timing, height in crop stand, etc. are important. Another constraint is availability of the pheromones at affordable price and at right blends. Worldwide producers of pheromones are very few and synthetic laboratories should come forward to develop processes for synthesis of pheromones.

21. Nanotechnology for slow release of pheromones
Methyl eugenol was immobilized by the interaction with
a polymer giving rise to the formation of a composite by
aromatic stacking interaction. A convenient and
solvent-free method was used for the preparation of the
composite of methyl eugenol and the hydrocarbon
polymer without having the chemical cross linking
between them. The composite showed the presence of
nanofibers stable at room temperature which increased
the shelf-life of the pheromone. The newly formed
composite was found to be water insoluble and also the
swelling and shrinking of the composite were not
observed. The composite would be useful for trapping of
Bactrocera dorsalis during rainy season.(NBAII)

22. Attractants
Traps with lures impregnated with the attractants methyl eugenol and cue lure are useful respectively in trapping the fruitflies Bactrocera dorsalis infesting mango, guava, oranges, etc. and B. cucurbitae infesting cucurbitaceous vegetables

23. FUTURE APPROACHES
Biotechnology based approaches must be intensified to develop new technologies to minimize the usage of chemicals in control of agricultural pests and stored grain pests 
In biopesticides, use of species-specific organisms need to be identified, formulation & production technology should be developed. Shelf life improvement to receive greater attention. Ideal environmental situations for efficient performance of biopesticides needs to be worked out for different agroclimatic zones.
There is need for research on nematode problems of major crops and assess the utility of bioproducts
Mass production and supply of biocontrol agents needs a practical approach
Research on natural enemies of major pests, mass multiplication and innundative release should be given due attention
Integration of pheromones with use of biocontrol agents needs to be developed

24. CONCLUSION
The use of botanicals, biopesticides, biocontrol agents and pheromones and attractants must receive greater attention in crop protection which may have impact in crop protection world over, creating situation conducive for a safer environment.

25. THANK YOU