What’s in the Future for Pesticides?
The most common alternative currently used for pesticides is known as Integrated Pest Management, or IPM.
One of your biggest worries in gardening is probably the presence of pests. A garden filled with fruit and vegetables is especially susceptible to insect invasion.
A popular treatment has been the use of pesticides. However, pesticides cause a number of problems when they’re washed into our natural waterways.
One alternative for your garden is integrated pest management (IPM). Here’s a quick rundown on how it works:
IPM
As mentioned above, pesticides are harmful to our water. When rains come, they are washed into nearby rivers and lakes. Our water treatment systems are not designed to remove pesticides.
In addition, pesticides will harm lots of living things, not just the bugs you’re looking to rid from your garden. You may be harming predatory species that could have helped eliminate your pests in the first place. Because most pesticides are not species-specific, using more pesticide will increase the risk of harming larger species—even humans.
IPM strategies allow for gardening without the use of pesticides.
How to Implement
- The easiest way to practice IPM is by locating plants carefully. Surround them with natural pest repellants like chrysanthemums and marigolds.
- You can also create a decoy, or a sacrificial “trap plant,” in the area just outside of the garden. This will draw pests away from your prized garden beauties.
- You’ll want to time plant growth and harvesting around the life cycles of known pests. If you cut off their dinner supply, they might find a different garden to pester (no pun intended).
- Knowing the insect life cycle arms you with means to adjust the cycle by removing or encouraging physical and chemical triggers to development.
You may find that implementing IPM leaves you with leftover pesticides in storage. Make sure you properly dispose of these using Earth911.
Practicing IPM in Your Area
IPM is a highly localized science. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has a network of extension offices that can help on a county-by-county basis. The Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service (CSREES) locator can show you the nearest office to help deal with your pests, in addition to training and education.
You may find that implementing IPM leaves you with leftover pesticides in storage. Make sure you properly dispose of these pesticides using Earth911.
Besides IPM, some not-so-mainstream alternatives are currently being developed. Scientists have come up with different ways to repel or kill pests by using natural substances. This type of pesticide is known as biopesticide. Here are the three main types of biopesticides:
Microbial Pesticides
These pesticides consist of microorganisms such as bacteria, fungus and viruses. These particular biopesticides are made to target particular pests. For example, certain types of fungi can control certain weeds.
Plant Incorporated Protectants (PIPs)
Perhaps the most fascinating of all three of these types, PIP means scientists have found a way to weave naturally occurring pesticides into a plant’s genetic material. This results in a plant that either naturally repels or kills pests.
For example, there is currently a type of genetically engineered corn that causes diseases in pests that attack the plant. The creation of such plants has caused a decrease in the use of pesticides. Additionally, if less pesticides are used, a ripple effect occurs. For example, if a farmer no longer needs to apply pesticide to his crop, then he uses less fuel, thus reducing emissions. It’s a fascinating venture that is sure to be the wave of the future. To learn even more about PIPs, you can visit the U.S. EPA.
Biochemical Pesticides
These are naturally occurring substances that confuse pests, in order to protect the plant. For example, some can let off an insect’s sex pheromone, thus interfering with mating patterns.
- "Types of Pesticides" U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2008
- Gesalman, Claire. Email Interview. Chief Communication Director of Bio-Pesticide Prevention Division. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency..
- Hutton, Phillip. Interview. Former Director of Bio-Pesticide Prevention Division. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
