The International Biocontrol Manufacturers’ Association (IBMA) classifies biocontrol agents into four groups: (1) macrobial, (2) microbial, (3) natural products,
and (4) semiochemicals. The application of genetically manipulated plants (GMPs)
with enhanced resistance against pests is another promising way. van Lenteren et al.
(2018) reviewed in detail the current state of the art in the area of commercially
available macrobial and microbial biopesticides. Summarizing these data, microorganisms account for 63% and invertebrates add the remaining 37% of the commercially used biopesticides. Individual microorganism types are represented within the
microorganism group as follows: bacteria 45%, fungi 40%, viruses 10%, yeasts 4%,
and bacteriophages 1%. The target organisms of microbial biopesticides are a variety
of insect pests, weeds, and pathogens. The most important microbial agent is
Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces dozens of different biopesticides and, in
fact, the first commercial biopesticide.
Macrobial biological control agents (natural enemies) and their percentage terms
are as follows: Hymenoptera 46%, Acari 18%, Coleoptera 12%, Neuroptera 10%,
Hemiptera 6%, Diptera 4%, Nematode 2%, Mantodea 2%, Thysanoptera 1%. They
are effective against a wide spectrum of insect pests, e.g., Aphids, Mites, Dipterans,
Thrips, Pseudococcids, Lepidopterans.
Natural products/biochemicals are represented by a variety of secondary metabolites produced by plants and some microorganisms, e.g., actinomicetes, which
either deter or kill microorganisms, insects, and/or plants. Semiochemicals serve
as insect behavior-modifying agents, mostly insect sex pheromones, for crop protection. They are used for either monitoring or pest control by mass trapping, lureand-kill systems, and mating disruption (Chandler et al. 2011).
Biological control is especially successful and currently plays the central role in
the production of many greenhouse crops (Chandler et al. 2011). For example, the
predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii was successfully used as a biological control
agent for whitefly and thrips in sweet pepper greenhouses in Spain and was further
integrated into Integrated Pest Management in commercial greenhouses (Calvo et al.
2012). Although biopesticides are known, experimentally tested, commercially used
for decades, and highly supported by governments, the global market of biological
control agents, e.g., invertebrates, microorganisms, and biochemicals is less than 2%
of the pesticide market (van Lenteren et al. 2018).
Although biopesticides are supported by the framework for Community action to
achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by Directive 2009/128/EC of the European
Parliament, in Europe, unlike the USA, the registration of new biopesticides is still
slow and the procedure is expensive, particularly for small manufacturers. The
changes in registration procedures will result in faster registration of more microbial
biological control agents and, consequently, in lower product costs (van Lenteren
et al. 2018). Generally, the wide use of biopesticides is limited because of their high
price, expensive and long research, expensive and slow registration, fragmented
(regional) market, and lack of awareness about their benefits, poor customer support,
and, in some cases, poor and/or fluctuating quality and shelf life, and inconsistent
field performance (Mishra et al. 2015). Recently, several company mergers and
acquisitions that may facilitate a healthy and sustainable development of the
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M. Halecký and E. Kozliak
and (4) semiochemicals. The application of genetically manipulated plants (GMPs)
with enhanced resistance against pests is another promising way. van Lenteren et al.
(2018) reviewed in detail the current state of the art in the area of commercially
available macrobial and microbial biopesticides. Summarizing these data, microorganisms account for 63% and invertebrates add the remaining 37% of the commercially used biopesticides. Individual microorganism types are represented within the
microorganism group as follows: bacteria 45%, fungi 40%, viruses 10%, yeasts 4%,
and bacteriophages 1%. The target organisms of microbial biopesticides are a variety
of insect pests, weeds, and pathogens. The most important microbial agent is
Bacillus thuringiensis, which produces dozens of different biopesticides and, in
fact, the first commercial biopesticide.
Macrobial biological control agents (natural enemies) and their percentage terms
are as follows: Hymenoptera 46%, Acari 18%, Coleoptera 12%, Neuroptera 10%,
Hemiptera 6%, Diptera 4%, Nematode 2%, Mantodea 2%, Thysanoptera 1%. They
are effective against a wide spectrum of insect pests, e.g., Aphids, Mites, Dipterans,
Thrips, Pseudococcids, Lepidopterans.
Natural products/biochemicals are represented by a variety of secondary metabolites produced by plants and some microorganisms, e.g., actinomicetes, which
either deter or kill microorganisms, insects, and/or plants. Semiochemicals serve
as insect behavior-modifying agents, mostly insect sex pheromones, for crop protection. They are used for either monitoring or pest control by mass trapping, lureand-kill systems, and mating disruption (Chandler et al. 2011).
Biological control is especially successful and currently plays the central role in
the production of many greenhouse crops (Chandler et al. 2011). For example, the
predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii was successfully used as a biological control
agent for whitefly and thrips in sweet pepper greenhouses in Spain and was further
integrated into Integrated Pest Management in commercial greenhouses (Calvo et al.
2012). Although biopesticides are known, experimentally tested, commercially used
for decades, and highly supported by governments, the global market of biological
control agents, e.g., invertebrates, microorganisms, and biochemicals is less than 2%
of the pesticide market (van Lenteren et al. 2018).
Although biopesticides are supported by the framework for Community action to
achieve the sustainable use of pesticides by Directive 2009/128/EC of the European
Parliament, in Europe, unlike the USA, the registration of new biopesticides is still
slow and the procedure is expensive, particularly for small manufacturers. The
changes in registration procedures will result in faster registration of more microbial
biological control agents and, consequently, in lower product costs (van Lenteren
et al. 2018). Generally, the wide use of biopesticides is limited because of their high
price, expensive and long research, expensive and slow registration, fragmented
(regional) market, and lack of awareness about their benefits, poor customer support,
and, in some cases, poor and/or fluctuating quality and shelf life, and inconsistent
field performance (Mishra et al. 2015). Recently, several company mergers and
acquisitions that may facilitate a healthy and sustainable development of the
518
M. Halecký and E. Kozliak