develop and implement Regional Technology Transfer
Strategies for biopesticides that have been shown to
be efficacious and economically viable. Stakeholders
include:
Government funding agencies,
Biopesticide companies,
University research and extension personnel,
Crop consultants,
Commodity groups, and
Other grower organizations.
These multi-year Regional Strategies include a
means to measure increases in the adoption of new
technology over time. Information will be stored in a
searchable database accessible to all growers and other
interested individuals.
The 1R-4 Database
The BDGP and IR-4 have developed user-friendly
databases, housed on the IR-4 Web site. These
databases serve as a critical reference tool for
growers looking to to IPM systems that include
biopesticides. These databases include:
Pesticide product labels for relevant biopesticide
use,
Handling guidance searchable by crop, pest, or
location, and
Current or historical accounts of biopesticide
research projects searchable by the name of the
biopesticide or by the food commodity being
grown.
To access the IR-4 Database, visit:
ir4.rutgers.edu/biopesticides.html
What Are Biopesticides?
Biopesticides are derived from natural materials
such as animals, plants, bacteria, and minerals.
Biopesticides target specific pests and generally
pose little or no risk to humans or the environment.
Traditional pesticides, by contrast, are generally
synthetic materials that not only affect the targeted
pest, but also unintended organisms such as beneficial
insects, surrounding vegetation, and wildlife.
Biopesticides fall into three main classes:
Microbial Pesticides A microorganism (e.g., a
bacterium, fungus, virus, or protozoan) serves as
the active ingredient to control pests.
Plant-IncorporatedProtectants (PIPs)
Pesticidal substances produced by genetically-
altered plants.
Biochemical Pesticides Naturally-occurring
substances that control pests by non-toxic
mechanisms. Biochemical pesticides include
substances such as insect sex pheromones that
interfere with mating, as well as various scented
plant extracts that attract insect pests to traps.
Biopesticides can be used to significantly reduce
reliance on traditional pesticides. With few
exceptions, biopesticides are not intended to function
as "stand-alone" pest control products that can
substitute other pesticides one-for-one. Biopesticides
are most effective when used as a component of an
IPM program.
For more information on the BDGP, please visit:
www.epa.gov/pestwise/biodemo
Demonstration Grant
Demonstrating and promoting biopesticide
solutions
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Biopesticide development requires testing and observation to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the technology. The Biopesticide Demonstration Grant Program
(BDGP) serves as a "real-time" laboratory for growers across the country to assess new and pioneering biopesticides across a wide variety of agricultural situations.
With an ever-increasing base of public support, the BDGP promotes use of biologically-based products by providing funds to university researchers who cooperate
with growers and biopesticide companies to demonstrate the effective use of biopesticides within Integrated Pesticide Managment (IPM) systems. These biopesticide
demonstrations are having a significant positive impact on the future of reduced-risk pest control and pesticide use.
Biopesticide Demonstration Grant
Program
Established in 2003, the BDGP is a pesticide
risk reduction partnership programone of the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)
collaborative PestWise programs. Through its
partnerships, the BDGP seeks to:
Increase awareness of effective options for
integrating biologically based technologies into
existing crop production systems; and
Promote the use of novel combinations of
biopesticides to enhance product performance.
The BDGP is jointly funded and administered
by EPA and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA)/Interregional Research Project #4 (IR-4).
The BDGP is a competitive grants program, funding
field demonstrations of registered biopesticides used
within IPM systems. University researchers partner
with growers and biopesticide companies to develop
grant proposals which are screened and rated based
on the proposal's efficacy, study design, and risk
reduction potential.
During the first five years of the BDGP, more than
50 grants, totaling $1.2 million, were awarded. The
final results of each funded demonstration will be
stored in a searchable database that is accessible to all
growers and other interested individuals.
Challenges to Increased Adoption of
Biopesticides
While the use of biopesticides has many benefits,
growers have not widely adopted these technologies.
In 2006, biopesticides only represented approximately
4% of the total pesticides applied nationally. The
BDGP works to overcome the barriers that hinder the
increased national adoption of biopesticides. Some
of these barriers include:
Lack of information,
Limited availability,
Concern about efficacy,
Concern about cost,
Concern about ease of application,
Uncertainty about biopesticide use within
conventional agricultural production systems,
and
Lack of resources for grower training.
To overcome these obstacles, the BDGP strives
to increase growers' confidence in adopting new
biopesticide technologies. The BDGP works to
continually raise awareness about effective options
for integrating biologically-based technologies
into existing crop production and IPM systems.
To increase grower confidence and awareness, the
BDGP facilitates direct communication with growers
and institutions. Grower-to-grower training within
commodity organizations has proven to be a potent
communication tool for behavioral, practical change.
The Biopesticide Technology Transfer
Initiative
Biopesticide penetration into the pesticide market is
essential for broader adoption by growers nationwide.
The effective introduction of biopesticides into
the market, though, can be challenging since many
companies lack the resources and field presence
necessary to accomplish this at a truly significant
level.
EPA is providing resources for the transfer of
promising biopesticide technologies through
the Biopesticide Technology Transfer Initiative.
Partnerships are formed with key stakeholders to
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