Understanding pest and disease resistance
Pest and disease resistance occurs when pests, insects, fungi, bacteria, or viruses adapt to the control measures designed to combat them. Chemical pesticides and herbicides have traditionally been used to protect crops. However, overuse of these chemicals has led to the development of resistant pest populations. For example:
- Insects such as the diamondback moth have developed resistance to multiple classes of insecticides.
- Pathogens, such as certain strains of rust fungi in wheat, have become less responsive to fungicidal treatments.
- Weeds such as Palmer amaranth are becoming increasingly tolerant to herbicides.
- The emergence of these resistant species poses significant challenges for global food security, as it reduces the effectiveness of conventional control methods.
The role of climate change
Climate change is exacerbating the spread and evolution of pests and diseases. Warmer temperatures and longer growing seasons mean that pests can now survive in regions which were once inhospitable to them. For instance:
- Greater scope: warmer climates enable pests such as the fall armyworm to spread into new territories, affecting crops such as corn, rice, and sorghum.
- Accelerated reproduction: higher temperatures speed up pest life cycles, increasing population size and damage potential.
- Altered pathogen dynamics: changing humidity and precipitation patterns encourage the development of plant diseases such as powdery mildew and late blight.
- These factors create a domino effect, intensifying agricultural losses and threatening global food supply chains.
Biosolutions: the sustainable alternative
As chemical controls lose efficacy, biosolutions emerge as a game-changing strategy for pest and disease management. Biosolutions include biopesticides, biofungicides, and biostimulants derived from natural sources such as bacteria, fungi, and plant extracts.
How do they work?
- Targeted action: biosolutions work selectively, targeting specific pests and pathogens without harming beneficial organisms.
- Reduced resistance: biosolutions lower the chances of resistance development by disrupting pests and diseases through a range of different mechanisms.
- Environmental benefits: unlike synthetic chemicals, biosolutions degrade quickly in the environment, reducing pollution and protecting biodiversity.
- Examples of effective biosolutions include the use of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to combat caterpillars, and Trichoderma species to control fungal diseases.
Combating climate challenges with biosolutions
Biosolutions offer several advantages in addressing the growing pest and disease challenges driven by climate change.
Adaptive flexibility: many biosolutions can be tailored to specific environments and pests, making them adaptable to changing conditions.
Boosting crop resilience: biostimulants enhance plants’ natural defenses so they are better able to combat stress, thus improving resistance to pests and diseases.
Integrated pest management (IPM): combining biosolutions with traditional methods creates a holistic approach to pest and disease control, maximizing efficiency and minimizing harm.
Rovensa Next: biosolutions to combat climate-induced pest and disease resistance
Rovensa Next offers an innovative range of biosolutions designed to address the challenges of climate change. For instance, biostimulants such as Phylgreen, made from pure Ascophyllum nodosum, help plants endure abiotic stress while promoting healthy growth. Additionally, products such as Humistar WG and Turbo Root WG improve soil health and nutrient availability by providing concentrated humic acids and essential micronutrients that stimulate root development and enhance resilience.
In pest and disease management, biocontrol solutions, such as pyrethrins, are bioinsecticides commonly used in IPM strategies due to their low-residue and long-term pest control properties. Our biocontrol solutions include Tec-Fort, X-terminator, and Santem. Orange oil-based multi-action bioinsecticide, biofungicide, and bioacaricide, powered by Orowet technology, also provide immediate protection against pests, fungi, and mites. Additionally, our Bacillus subtilis-based products, such as Ospo-vi55, Milagrum Plus, and Portento, target diseases like downy mildew, powdery mildew, and apple scab. Together, these solutions reduce growers’ dependence on synthetic chemicals while promoting sustainable farming practices and ensuring crop health and yield stability in a changing climate.
Conclusion: investing in a resilient future
As climate change continues to disrupt agricultural systems, combating pest and disease resistance will remain a critical challenge. Integrating biosolutions into farming practices can promote sustainable agriculture while safeguarding food security. Governments, researchers, and industry stakeholders must work together to increase awareness of, investment in, and access to these innovative tools.
Farmers and agricultural experts have a pivotal role to play in driving this change. Embracing biosolutions is not just about combating current challenges, it is about building resilience for the future.
Sources and references:
- FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations). (2021). The Impact of Climate Change on Plant Pests and Diseases. Retrieved from www.fao.org
- IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change). (2022). Climate Change and Agriculture: Risks and Adaptation Strategies.
- European Commission. (2023). Biological Pest Control and Sustainable Farming. Retrieved from www.ec.europa.eu
- Jactel, H., Koricheva, J., & Castagneyrol, B. (2019). Responses of Forest Insect Pests to Climate Change: Not so Simple. Current Opinion in Insect Science, 35, 103-108.
- Mota-Sanchez, D., & Wise, J. C. (2022). The Evolution and Management of Insecticide Resistance in Insect Pests. Insects, 13(7), 607.
- Poppy, G. M., & Chi, H. (2020). Biosolutions and Biological Control for Pest Management in a Changing Climate. Journal of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 10(4), 123-138.
