Biopesticides: To Overcome Challenges, the First Step Is to Define Their Niche

　　At present, green agricultural development has become the dominant theme. With the attention and support of government departments at all levels, highly toxic and persistent pesticides… Pesticide The product is gradually being phased out of the market, chemical Pesticide Tending toward reduced application, environmentally friendly biological agents Pesticide Becoming the industry’s new favorite, with promising growth potential.
　　Despite years of calling for “biological”… Pesticide “Spring has arrived,” but in reality, it is biology. Pesticide It is still struggling to break through the predicament of “receiving acclaim but failing to attract audiences.” How can we overcome the constraints on development and promote its wider, more effective application? Recently, China… Pesticide The Ninth Biotechnology Conference of the Development and Application Association was held in Nanjing, Jiangsu. Pesticide At the Development and Application Exchange Conference, representatives from government agencies, research institutes, Pesticide Representatives from all sectors of the business community gathered to conduct an in-depth analysis of the current situation, share experiences, and jointly devise strategies for sustainable development.
　　1. Identify the right positioning
　　Unparalleled advantages and chemistry Pesticide Should be beautiful and together
　　Speaking of biology Pesticide The current state of development, China Pesticide In his address, Li Tieshen, Vice President of the Development and Application Association, stated that over the years, biology… Pesticide By striving for survival amid hardship and pursuing development in challenging circumstances, significant progress has been made, and the longstanding dilemma of “critical acclaim without commercial success” is gradually being alleviated. At present, agriculture is advancing comprehensively toward high-quality development; the new landscape presents fresh opportunities, and the industry must align with these trends, seize the momentum, and accelerate biotechnological innovation. Pesticide Its promotion and popularization, as well as public science education. “It should be noted that the development of biological… Pesticide It is not intended to completely replace chemistry. Pesticide “Both should follow the path of integrating traditional Chinese medicine with Western medicine, and this approach must be properly promoted and guided.”
　　For organisms Pesticide , Deputy Director of the Institute of Plant Protection at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, a renowned biologist Pesticide At the conference, expert Qiu Dewen summarized it by saying, “Its advantages and disadvantages are equally pronounced”—it possesses both chemical… Pesticide It offers unparalleled advantages: it can address the issues of excessive pesticide residues in agricultural products and environmental pollution, reduce the development of resistance, and tackle both the symptoms and root causes of pests and diseases, thereby helping to protect and improve the ecological environment. However, it also faces constraints such as slow efficacy, high costs, a limited scope of application, and stringent technical requirements.
　　Qiu Dewen believes that, for organisms… Pesticide Its positioning and perception need to be revised; it should not be viewed solely in terms of chemistry. Pesticide Compared to the protective efficacy. Because biological Pesticide It is primarily used for proactive prevention, aiming to keep pest and disease levels below the economic threshold rather than relentlessly seeking to eradicate them. Moreover, biological… Pesticide It has its own advantages, such as chemical control of soil-borne diseases. Pesticide It is difficult to prevent and control; use biological methods. Pesticide then it yields very good results. He also offered a vivid analogy: if we were to say that chemistry… Pesticide It’s the “fire brigade,” biology. Pesticide Its role is that of a “stability‑maintaining team,” ensuring that “pests do not cause harm and diseases do not turn into disasters,” thereby achieving the intended objectives of pest and disease control.
　　China Pesticide Development and Application Association of Biology Pesticide Shao Zhenrun, the chairperson of the specialized committee, also expressed the same view: biology… Pesticide and chemistry Pesticide Each has its strengths and does not oppose the other; developing biology. Pesticide It’s not about rejecting chemistry. Pesticide “Their relationship should be one of ‘each cherishing its own beauty and sharing beauty together,’ jointly contributing to pest and disease management and the green development of agriculture.” He also stated that biological… Pesticide With great development potential, it is necessary to strengthen the field of biology. Pesticide This confidence has resonated with numerous industry insiders.
　　2. Identify the right market
　　Targeting the high‑quality market: to forge iron, one must first be strong oneself.
　　Although it has great potential, the organism… Pesticide The challenges of promotion are considerable. For many years, biology… Pesticide It has long been stuck in the awkward position of being critically acclaimed but failing to attract audiences. How can this be resolved? Identifying the right market is key.
　　Tang Mingzhen, Deputy Inspector of the Jiangsu Provincial Agricultural Committee, introduced Jiangsu Province’s efforts to promote green pest control and biological methods. Pesticide When discussing the experience, the organism Pesticide It is easier to promote and apply in regions where high‑value agricultural products such as fruits, vegetables, and tea are produced, and where urban and rural residents enjoy relatively high consumption levels.
　　Fang Fenfen, Technical Director of Henan Jiyuan Baiyun Industrial Co., Ltd., told reporters that the company’s biological… Pesticide The products are primarily exported, but in recent years the domestic market has also been growing steadily. In regions where pest and disease pressures are relatively uniform and have already developed strong resistance—such as Xinjiang— Cotton On crops such as asparagus in Shanghai and Chinese flowering cabbage in South China, the biological… Pesticide There’s room for everyone to shine.
　　Xu Changqing, a researcher at the Institute of Medicinal Plant Development of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, pointed out that the organic industry is currently expanding rapidly and urgently requires large quantities of genuine, effective agricultural inputs. In the organic sector—particularly in the production of organic Chinese medicinal materials—biological… Pesticide It has great practical value.
　　In addition, several experts unanimously noted that biology… Pesticide The quality of the products remains to be improved. According to the results of three consecutive years of random inspections conducted by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, biological… Pesticide Product quality is alarming, with nearly half of the products failing to meet standards and undisclosed chemical additives. Pesticide The issue of ingredients is particularly prominent. This has resulted in certain applications of biotechnology… Pesticide Enterprises whose agricultural products are subject to returns or even the revocation of their organic certification due to pesticide residue concerns.
　　“The existing inputs can no longer meet the needs of industrial development and have even become major risk factors and bottlenecks in organic agricultural production,” noted Xu Changqing. He pointed out that, under the revised Measures for the Administration of Organic Product Certification, if a certified product’s applicant is found to have illegally used prohibited substances or engaged in other violations, the certification body may refuse to accept any further organic‑product certification applications from that enterprise, its production bases, or its processing facilities for a period of five years—imposing extremely high costs for noncompliance. He called on… Pesticide Companies should refrain from adding hidden ingredients to their products; doing so not only harms consumers but also risks irreparably damaging the company’s reputation and prospects.
　　“Organism” Pesticide Improving and elevating product quality is the bottom line. We must screen for safe, high‑efficacy active ingredients and refine manufacturing processes to eliminate the addition of hidden chemical components, thereby building truly reputable bio‑based brands. Pesticide .” Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Pesticide Wang Xiaojun, Deputy Director of the Pharmacological Evaluation Division at the Testing Institute, stated as follows.
　　3
　　Strengthen promotion
　　When incorporated into the overall plan, the integrated application delivers excellent results.
　　How to advance biology Pesticide For better and faster development, many experts recommend that biotechnology… Pesticide Integrating it into the broader technological system yields better results when promoted and applied in a coordinated manner.
　　Kong Weibao, General Manager of Jiangsu Bangsheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., believes that biotechnology… Pesticide It is a component of the green pest management system—biological control. Pesticide The research, production, and application technologies of [product name] can only gain widespread acceptance among farmers when viewed within the broader context of a green pest‑control system. It is essential to strengthen technical guidance and enhance biological… Pesticide With efficient and low-toxicity chemicals Pesticide of collaborative promotion and application. At the same time, strengthen biological… Pesticide Conduct research on key industrialization technologies and deliver products that are of robust quality, deliver strong performance, and are affordably priced.
　　Qiu Dewen also recommends shifting from single‑drug approaches to integrated solutions, incorporating biological… Pesticide Implement integrated, coordinated pest‑management strategies: for example, apply Beauveria bassiana to reduce populations of soilborne pests and aphids, and use Trichoderma spp. to suppress soilborne pathogens associated with continuous cropping. During the seedling, flowering, and young fruit stages, enhance crop resistance through foliar applications of plant‑immune‑boosting agents such as Atiling. Employ marine Bacillus species and Bacillus subtilis to control diseases, and utilize alkaloids like veratrine and matrine to manage insect pests. Additionally, release beneficial natural enemies—such as green lacewings, lady beetles, predatory mites, and Trichogramma wasps—in greenhouse settings. By developing systematic, crop‑specific management plans, adopt a holistic approach to address both symptoms and root causes.
　　Researcher Fang Fuping of the Chinese Academy of Rice Research recommends that, on the one hand, biological processes should be streamlined. Pesticide Registration procedures, accelerating biological… Pesticide Register and promote new products, enhance scientific and technological innovation capabilities, accelerate the development of new varieties and novel formulations, and improve both efficacy and stability. Meanwhile, it is recommended to increase subsidy support, giving priority to new types of agricultural operators and branded production bases in key regions specializing in grain crops, fruits, vegetables, and tea, and establishing a number of bio‑based initiatives. Pesticide a demonstration base; intensify the development of green and organic agricultural product brands, enhance brand impact, and effectively guide farmers to voluntarily adopt biological… Pesticide 。
　　“Addressing the issue of critical acclaim without commercial success requires improving biotechnology.” Pesticide “the level of scientific utilization,” said Fang Fuping, adding that we could draw on the experiences of countries such as Japan and Denmark to formulate… Pesticide Guidelines for use and criteria for certification as an “Eco-Farmer” (e.g., the use of biological… Pesticide ( accounting for over 50%). Once farmers obtain this qualification, they can benefit from various preferential policies and support measures introduced by the government. At the same time, diverse approaches should be employed to publicize and promote biological… Pesticide Its advantages and application technologies should be promoted to facilitate wider adoption.
　　Tang Mingzhen stated that accelerating biotechnology… Pesticide Promotion requires the support of multiple stakeholders and concerted efforts. Jiangsu will further strengthen project and technical support to enhance its capabilities in the biotechnology sector. Pesticide The level of support for clustering and agglomeration will be strengthened, with a focus on supporting new types of business entities and branded production bases in key advantageous areas for fruits, vegetables, and tea, and on the large-scale promotion and application of biological technologies. Pesticide 。

Author: Wang Tengfei Source: Farmers’ Daily