April 2019 - 18

BIOCONTOL STRATEGIES
BIOLOGICALS
GET BIGGER
Industry says it's growing past niche uses
Biological products are often used in controlled environment agriculture, althought the industry says they are expanding into other types of agriculture. Photos: Marrone Bio
By Stephen Kloosterman
Associate Editor
Biological products are a vital tool
for organic vegetable growers and have
shown effectiveness in greenhouses for
stopping weeds and bad bugs.
But the industry isn't stopping there.
Leaders say they're claiming a place in
mainstream agriculture. An industry that
started with finding softer chemicals and
biological means for controlling pests and
weeds now has biostimulants promoting
plant growth. Other products even aim at
improving vegetable quality and shelf life.
More at market
" The specialty crops are really where
a lot of the biological products actually
got their start, " said Keith Jones,
executive
director of
the Biological
Products
Industry
Alliance
growers - and that market share
continues to grow annually.
While about 25 percent of biocontrols
High-Tech Tools
2019
(BPIA).
" Biological
products have found their greatest
acceptance with fruit and vegetable
growers. "
BPIA promotes the responsible
development of safe and effective
biological products. The group has grown
from just five original companies to about
130 members that either manufacture,
market or distribute biological products.
Jones said biologicals now make up
about 17 percent of the market of pest
control products for fruit and vegetable
are used on organic crops, he said
the majority are now being used on
conventional crops.
" Consumer demand is also a driver
for this, " he said. " People now, they care
a lot more about what's going on with
their grapes. They may not have such
an interest in what's being used on their
cotton. Things that they're consuming,
there's a higher degree of interest in what's
being used on those kinds of crops. "
But even biological products are not
exempt from all regulation.
In the U.S., the EPA's Biopesticides
and Pollution Prevention Division in
its Office of Pesticide Programs handles
registration of biological pest controls
that act with biochemical, microbial or
emerging technologies.
" Like any industry, I'm sure there are
some inferior products out there, " Jones
said. A biological product that survives
on the market for several years likely has
a demonstrated value for growers, he
said. Startup companies that apply for
membership to the BPIA must agree to
comply with government registration
rules, and make scientifically valid claims
in marketing.
" We're just looking for a company to
be a legitimate company with legitimate
products or services, " Jones said.
Microbials - products with a
microorganism such as bacteria as the
active ingredient - make up 25 percent
of the industry currently but are its
fastest-growing sector. Biochemicals
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18 | VegetableGrowersNews.com
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April 2019

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