Another problem with microbial products is their short shelf life. The mean shelf
life time for these products is about 1 year. The products that are not made of resting
resistance propagules usually need special storage conditions and if not kept in
recommended conditions, their efficiency is reduced over time (Yang and del Rio
2002). As the acquisition of these particular storage proficiency or devices is difficult
for most wholesalers or retailers, they prefer not to enter the business.
Naturally, a resistance exists against the acceptance of a new product in the
market. Therefore, the producers and their distributors’ networks need an extensive
endeavor even after a product, especially a microbial pesticide, is registered. Considering these matters, few companies decide to enter such business. However
widespread IPM/FFS programs could be of help in convincing the growers to
integrate robust microbial biopesticides in their IPM measures.
Market instability is another obstacle facing the Iranian producers. The import/
export laws and regulations change frequently and the value of the national currency
fluctuates occasionally. The interest rates which Iranian banks assign to deposited
money is too high which makes the investment on production irrational according to
market risks. These factors make the investors (local or foreign) hesitant to venture
upon investing as a producer in Iran. The more focused investigation is required to
determine the factors slowing down registration, commercialization and adoption of
microbial pesticides in Iran.
14.6 Future Prospects
Pest management measures need to be revised rapidly because of changing society
attitude towards human health and the environment. The demands for various safe
foodstuffs have been increasing continuously due to public awareness about the
deleterious effects of synthetic chemical pesticides on the health of humans and their
surroundings. The microbial biopesticides are a promising alternative which can be
used in sustainable farming. Numerous studies in this regard have been accomplished in the recent years (Moosavi et al. 2010, 2011, 2015; Kalantari et al. 2013;
Naraghi et al. 2014; Khorramvatan et al. 2014; Damani Zamani et al. 2015; Goudarzi
et al. 2015; Salehi Jouzani et al. 2015; Amir-Ahmadi et al. 2017) which increase the
hope of introducing new products in the Iran market within a short time. However, it
is obvious that the microbial biopesticides need government support to be successfully launched into the market. The government support can be by enforcement of
regulations such as forbidding the production or trading of unsafe chemical pesticides; allocating financial assistance or price support systems; and easing the export
laws for organic and safe products. These policies can encourage farmers to use
biopesticides, enlarge the market size, and direct the capital flow towards investing
on microbial biopesticides. Many corporations are still hesitant to enter the business
due to the niche market and pricey registration procedures. Government assurance
and assistance will certainly persuade them to defeat their uncertainty.
14 Microbial Biopecticides: Opportunities and Challenges
545
life time for these products is about 1 year. The products that are not made of resting
resistance propagules usually need special storage conditions and if not kept in
recommended conditions, their efficiency is reduced over time (Yang and del Rio
2002). As the acquisition of these particular storage proficiency or devices is difficult
for most wholesalers or retailers, they prefer not to enter the business.
Naturally, a resistance exists against the acceptance of a new product in the
market. Therefore, the producers and their distributors’ networks need an extensive
endeavor even after a product, especially a microbial pesticide, is registered. Considering these matters, few companies decide to enter such business. However
widespread IPM/FFS programs could be of help in convincing the growers to
integrate robust microbial biopesticides in their IPM measures.
Market instability is another obstacle facing the Iranian producers. The import/
export laws and regulations change frequently and the value of the national currency
fluctuates occasionally. The interest rates which Iranian banks assign to deposited
money is too high which makes the investment on production irrational according to
market risks. These factors make the investors (local or foreign) hesitant to venture
upon investing as a producer in Iran. The more focused investigation is required to
determine the factors slowing down registration, commercialization and adoption of
microbial pesticides in Iran.
14.6 Future Prospects
Pest management measures need to be revised rapidly because of changing society
attitude towards human health and the environment. The demands for various safe
foodstuffs have been increasing continuously due to public awareness about the
deleterious effects of synthetic chemical pesticides on the health of humans and their
surroundings. The microbial biopesticides are a promising alternative which can be
used in sustainable farming. Numerous studies in this regard have been accomplished in the recent years (Moosavi et al. 2010, 2011, 2015; Kalantari et al. 2013;
Naraghi et al. 2014; Khorramvatan et al. 2014; Damani Zamani et al. 2015; Goudarzi
et al. 2015; Salehi Jouzani et al. 2015; Amir-Ahmadi et al. 2017) which increase the
hope of introducing new products in the Iran market within a short time. However, it
is obvious that the microbial biopesticides need government support to be successfully launched into the market. The government support can be by enforcement of
regulations such as forbidding the production or trading of unsafe chemical pesticides; allocating financial assistance or price support systems; and easing the export
laws for organic and safe products. These policies can encourage farmers to use
biopesticides, enlarge the market size, and direct the capital flow towards investing
on microbial biopesticides. Many corporations are still hesitant to enter the business
due to the niche market and pricey registration procedures. Government assurance
and assistance will certainly persuade them to defeat their uncertainty.
14 Microbial Biopecticides: Opportunities and Challenges
545