Importance of Biotechnology in Controlling Insect Pests

Abstract

Agriculture is considered an important source of national income for a lot of countries and most of inhabitants of these countries are dependent on farming for their food. Insects have been one of the most important sources of food production damage, accounting for 20% to 30% of global production losses. Approximately 67,000 insect species are thought to inflict harm to plantations and tropical regions, which are often the poorest in the world and are hit hardest by insect pests. Agriculture spends billions of dollars each year on insect control around the world. Pesticide use has resulted in pesticide-resistant insects, a drop in beneficial insect populations, and a slew of other negative effects for humans and the environment. These concerns have led researchers to consider a different approach in order to produce more environmentally friendly insect control tactics that use both synthetic and natural chemicals. The use of bio-pesticides in pest management has been increasing in recent years. There are three types of the ecofriendly management agents bio-pesticides have been identified as follows: bio-control organisms (pathogenic microorganism, predators and parasites); plant-incorporated protectants (transgenic Bt toxin); and biochemical pesticides (botanical pesticides and other natural compounds. Most of chemical companies such as Monsato, Dupont, and Ciba Geigy, are now promoting biotechnology as a strategy to ensure high productivity, these companies invests millions of dollars in biotechnology research to develop genetically modified crops, animals, and microorganisms to combat pests, produce fertilizer, and improve efficiency. Where they uploaded this businesses and scientific institutions are the slogans that biotechnology is the future of agriculture.