Bio-rationals and other new technologies
The term bio-rationals covers insect predators, parasites, the wide range of pest control materials, from plants and microorganisms – or the compounds they contain – through to naturally occurring oils and specially formulated clays. The safe and/or environmentally benign image – as well as the proven safety attributes of many bio-rationals – has stimulated fast-track regulatory processes and strong sector growth.
But these agents can have greater input costs, narrower spectrum or more demanding application protocols than conventional chemical control agents. This seminar session thread examines current successes and issues in development and commercialisation of bio-rationals. This includes ways in which efficacy restrictions have been, or can be, overcome.
This will not be the typical biocontrol meeting. It will introduce new approaches to the commercially viable use of natural products and micro-organisms in broad acre crops. It is well known that biocontrol agents are successfully used alone in organic and protected crops, but there is great potential for their use in integrated control systems, combined with conventional crop protection agents. This will increase the spectrum of control to include hard-to-kill species, lower chemical residues in treated crops and reduce the incidence of resistance. This will lead to reduced chemical inputs whilst retaining cost-effective control. 