The fruit industry has been told to capitalise on the potential use of biopesticides ahead of the forecasted implementation of new EU regulations in spring 2010.
Roma Gwynn of Rationale Biopesticide Consultants told delegates at Fruit Focus that she expected sales of biopesticides, which currently stand at $512 million (£310.2m) a year, to double next year.
Gwynn believes biopesticides are currently underused in the industry, working best as a population management tool as part of a proactive approach before the pest appears.
Debates are currently ongoing over discerning between biopesticides and human pathogens and bacteria, as growers have been wary of detecting living entities on fruit.
Gywnn said: “Production prices for biopesticides are currently very controlled but the benefits are multiple in terms of residue reduction, and using integrated pest management.
“We need the continued development of government supported resource building, improved savings to companies registering products and finding ways of facilitating availability.
“Retailers have been very receptive to these products and it is a step towards many of their zero-residue goals. Currently profit margins are low in using biopesticides, and registration costs are high as it is grouped as a chemical pesticide, but increased use will help.”
Currently 77 products are available for use in Europe and 15 in the UK. Gywnn believes the revised 91/414/EEC directive will come into force in spring next year.
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