In recent years, the search for new methods of controlling agricultural pests has led to significant advancements in bio-insecticide technology. One such development is the emergence of peptide-based insecticides, which seek to balance effective pest control and environmental stewardship.
Peptides are essentially amino acids, the building blocks of proteins. In the context of insecticides, peptides are a new approach, representing the first significant shift in insecticidal modes of action since the introduction of diamides in 2008. This new class of insecticides offers an exciting opportunity for a more sustainable, eco-friendly solution to pest management, says Kira Sappington, director of sales for Vestaron.
Insecticides which are peptide-based, such as Vestaron’s Spear RC, target lepidopteran larvae — pests found across a range of crops, including soybeans and corn. Unlike traditional insecticides, peptide-based products work via ingestion targeting control at the larval stage and thereby preventing potential damage to mature crops.
Early studies suggest that the performance of peptide-based bio-insecticides is comparable to traditional synthetic insecticides, Sappington says. What sets them apart, however, is their ‘safe tox’ profile, meaning they are toxic only to their target insects and are significantly less harmful to other forms of life and the environment.
This unique balance of efficacy and environmental safety is the hallmark of peptide-based insecticides, Sappington says. These products merge the safety of biological insecticides with the potency and lasting effects of synthetic variants. Consequently, they’re able to integrate into existing farming practices as a ‘plug and play’ solution, she says.
The potential for global reach of this technology is promising, with specialty products such as Spear LEP already making headway in the Canadian market, notably for use on apple and brassica crops. Such expansion underlines the universal appeal of sustainable solutions in modern agriculture.
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