authorities to diminish the application of synthetic compounds. The outcome is
revealed as some modifications in regulations (Moosavi and Zare 2016). On the
other hand, a social rebuttal of chemicals creates an increasing demand for organicor healthy-products which provide a new market in Iran. The prospect of this market
is very bright, so the companies are gradually convinced to invest in new safer
pesticides. Microbial pesticides are a proper choice that can suppress the pests in a
sustainable manner (Moosavi and Zare 2016). Though the legal enforcement and
society views are considered as strong promotional factors, the companies’ directions are generally designed according to market-driven demands (Ravensberg
2011d). When there is not enough consumer demand in a reasonable time period,
the investment in research and development of a microbial pesticide will be uneconomical (Moosavi and Zare 2015).
Now there is a hope that new safer pesticides can be substituted with chemical
ones. Here the history and current status of microbial pesticides are discussed. As
well, their success in being launced in the pesticides market of Iran is also reviewed.
Then the major challenges in producing and adapting of microbial pesticides by
producers and growers are presented. Finally, the prospects of investigation, development and application of these products will be discussed.
Fig. 14.1 Application of chemicals in Iran during 1990 to 2016 in terms of tons of chemicals. Data
for the years 1997–1999, 2010, 2014 and 2015 were not available (information retrieved from FAO
Stat 2019)
536
M. R. Moosavi and V. Minassian
revealed as some modifications in regulations (Moosavi and Zare 2016). On the
other hand, a social rebuttal of chemicals creates an increasing demand for organicor healthy-products which provide a new market in Iran. The prospect of this market
is very bright, so the companies are gradually convinced to invest in new safer
pesticides. Microbial pesticides are a proper choice that can suppress the pests in a
sustainable manner (Moosavi and Zare 2016). Though the legal enforcement and
society views are considered as strong promotional factors, the companies’ directions are generally designed according to market-driven demands (Ravensberg
2011d). When there is not enough consumer demand in a reasonable time period,
the investment in research and development of a microbial pesticide will be uneconomical (Moosavi and Zare 2015).
Now there is a hope that new safer pesticides can be substituted with chemical
ones. Here the history and current status of microbial pesticides are discussed. As
well, their success in being launced in the pesticides market of Iran is also reviewed.
Then the major challenges in producing and adapting of microbial pesticides by
producers and growers are presented. Finally, the prospects of investigation, development and application of these products will be discussed.
Fig. 14.1 Application of chemicals in Iran during 1990 to 2016 in terms of tons of chemicals. Data
for the years 1997–1999, 2010, 2014 and 2015 were not available (information retrieved from FAO
Stat 2019)
536
M. R. Moosavi and V. Minassian