Barriers to the use of entomopathogenic nematodes as biocontrol agents: South Africa as a case study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Pesticides are synonymous with conventional agriculture, however in recent years, synthetic pesticideshave been scrutinised for environmental and human health-related toxicity. Biopesticides are a sustainablealternative, with biopesticide technology promising to meet the market halfway by means of maintainingthe current agricultural economic structure, using input technologies, but sustainably, to promotebiodiversity and healthy ecosystem functioning. Biopesticides, which have the potential to mitigate theimpact of ecosystem collapse from intense agriculture and climate change, have received heavy investmentfor product development. However, multiple barriers to biopesticide commercialisation are preventingtheir widespread use in viticulture and other South African agricultural industries. A literature reviewhas established that the barriers can be simplified into three main categories: regulatory, commercial,and educational. This review seeks to understand the barriers and why, after many years of research anddevelopment and considerable investment, the South African biopesticide market is still only a fractionof the size of the synthetic product market. Global research is considered, as the issue is not a solelySouth African one, and multiple countries are facing similar barriers to achieving biopesticide commercialsuccess. Moreover, this review provides the context as to why, after almost 20 years of research and productdevelopment, a locally produced entomopathogenic nematode biopesticide product is still unavailable toSouth African growers, despite the high demand for such a product.
DOI: 10.21548/46-6964
Authors: Murray D. Dunn, Antoinette P. Malan
Institution: Stellenbosch University
Language: English
Subfield: Insect Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDGs: Zero hunger, Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $271
OpenAlex ID: W4410377091