06/04/2026
Great information!
After some questions, I realized that most gardeners don't know what is considered a biological pesticide and felt it might be as bad as using "chemical pesticides", even though they may be using them without knowing what they are!
So I decided to explain them before covering them and their pros and cons.
Biopesticides are certain types of pesticides derived from natural materials as animals, plants, bacteria, and certain minerals. For example, canola oil and baking soda have pesticidal applications and are considered biopesticides. Diatomaceous Earth is considered a biopesticide. Biological solutions are available to manage a wide variety of important agricultural pests and new products are becoming available seemingly every month. These include the use of natural enemies and antagonists of pests such as insects, diseases, weeds, and nematodes.
As many pesticides play a major role in pollinator decline worldwide, biopesticides have been gaining increased attention as a more sustainable method for pest management in agriculture. These biocontrol pesticides are USUALLY considered safer for non-target species, such as pollinators. However, this is not always the case so please pay attention to label recommendations.
What are the advantages of using biopesticides?
• Biopesticides are usually less toxic than conventional pesticides.
• Biopesticides generally affect only the target pest and closely related organisms, in contrast to broad spectrum, conventional pesticides that may affect organisms as different as birds, insects and mammals.
• Biopesticides often are effective in very small quantities and often decompose quickly, resulting in lower exposures and avoiding the pollution problems caused by conventional pesticides.
• When used as a component of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs, biopesticides can greatly reduce the use of conventional pesticides, while protecting crop yields.
