Microbe-based pesticides have sustainability advantages over chemicals: they may be less toxic, target pests more specifically, break down quickly and harmlessly, and they may be less likely to trigger pest resistance.

However, questions remain over their relative efficacy and price point, while they face the challenge of disruptors in a well-organised, chemical inputs industry. 

Manufacturers of microbial pesticides are often keen to stress a less stringent regulatory environment, compared with chemical pesticides, which can cut product approval times and development costs. Their products may also be cheaper to develop because of their natural origin.

According to the International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA), the development cost of a microbial pesticide is typically between $5 million and $10 million, compared to $250 million for a new chemical pesticide.

However, the easier wins may end there.

There are complications for disruptors, aiming to up-end an industry whose incumbents have well-honed marketing and distribution channels. In addition, the greater negative environmental impacts of chemical pesticides are typically un-costed, because of the public good characteristics of biodiversity protection, throwing the cost focus onto biologicals.

And there are concerns over the efficacy of biologicals, concerns which may be heightened by poor familiarity.

Practical challenges include:

• Slower acting: large-scale commercial farmers may avoid microbial pesticides fearing slower results, compared to chemical options, which may act more quickly to prevent crop losses.

• Market access: microbial pesticide manufacturers may face hurdles in scaling production and accessing well-established distribution channels dominated by chemical pesticide suppliers.

• Low Awareness and Training: farmers may be less familiar with microbial pesticides, with limited training or access to knowledge about their use, which in turn discourages adoption

• Biological pesticides are often made of living microorganisms which need specific conditions to thrive and function. Extreme heat, moisture levels and UV exposure can all reduce their efficacy. Proper storage and application of biopesticides is therefore important.

Below we highlight selected companies which are focused on smoothing the adoption and commercialisation of microbials.

PACKAGING AND DELIVERY – 3Bar Bio describes itself as a microbe delivery and manufacturing company that partners with microbe discovery and commercialization companies. The company provides packaging of living microbial products developed by partner companies, for delivery as sustainable inputs to farmers.

REGULATORY APPROVAL – Bioceres Crop Solutions specialises in partnering with start-ups and academic labs preparing new biological crop solutions, and then bringing them to market, including achieving registration approvals.

EDUCATION – Agrobiota is a consultancy services provider which specializes in promoting sustainable farming practices through the use of biotechnology, and especially by the application of microbial solutions.

ADVISORY – SynDev says it assists farmers and stakeholders in the agricultural sector to adopt more environmental friendly practices. The company optimizes biosolutions through a decision support app, called SynApps, for products made from natural raw materials, including biofertilizers, biopesticides and biostimulants.

COST REDUCTION – LiveGrow‘s focus is a patented microbial fermentation and  formulation technology that it says is capable of manufacturing microbial products with costs on a par with chemicals, and a shelf life of two or more years at room temperature. It says that its R&D team can create a metabolically active, highly concentrated, shelf-stable commercial formulation from any microbe in under 3 months.