In a recent interview with Meister Media Worldwide, Dr Brendon Neumann shared insights into one of agriculture’s most pressing challenges, Resistance Management, and highlighted how biological crop protection solutions are becoming an increasingly important part of sustainable farming systems.
The Growing Challenge of Resistance
Resistance management is critical to ensuring the long-term effectiveness of crop protection tools. Developing new chemically active ingredients is both time-consuming and costly, resulting in a limited pipeline of new solutions. As a result, it is essential to protect the efficacy of existing products.
Resistance has largely developed due to the widespread use of single-mode-of-action chemistries. These products often target a specific site in pests or pathogens, making it relatively easy for small genetic mutations to confer resistance. Over time, repeated use, especially across large monoculture areas, creates strong selection pressure, allowing resistant populations to dominate.
Biologicals as Part of the Solution
Biological crop protection products offer a valuable solution to this challenge. Unlike many conventional chemistries, biologicals often operate through multiple modes of action, significantly reducing the likelihood of resistance development.
When integrated into crop protection programs (either through rotation or tank mixing), biologicals can help eliminate resistant individuals that survive chemical applications. This complementary approach strengthens overall efficacy and supports more resilient pest and disease control systems.
Biological products undergo rigorous testing comparable to conventional chemicals before reaching the market. While resistance mitigation is not always tested directly as a standalone claim, it is widely accepted that combining different modes of action within a program slows resistance development and improves overall control. Field experience supports this: programs integrating biologicals alongside chemistries consistently outperform those relying on a single solution, particularly in situations where resistance has already begun to emerge.
Improving Performance Through Knowledge
One of the perceived challenges with biologicals is variability in performance. However, this is less about product inconsistency and more about environmental sensitivity. Factors such as UV exposure, temperature extremes, and humidity can influence effectiveness.
The key to overcoming this lies in grower education. When users understand how and when to apply biologicals correctly and adjust practices accordingly, performance becomes far more consistent and reliable.
Where Biologicals Make the Greatest Impact
Biologicals are particularly valuable in high-intensity cropping systems, such as greenhouse vegetables and orchard crops, where frequent applications of crop protection products are required.
In these systems, the risk of resistance is significantly higher due to repeated use of the same chemistries. Integrating biologicals not only helps manage resistance but also supports reduced chemical residues, an increasingly important consideration for market access and consumer expectations.
Overcoming Barriers to Adoption
Despite their benefits, adoption of biologicals is often limited by a lack of familiarity. Growers typically have deep experience with chemical products but may not fully understand how to use biologicals effectively. Addressing this requires ongoing education and practical support, including:
- Field-level technical guidance
- Demonstrations and grower days
- Review and optimisation of seasonal programs
- Collaboration with distributors and advisors
Looking ahead, digital tools and AI-driven recommendations may further improve access to knowledge and decision-making support.
Innovation Shaping the Future
The biologicals sector is evolving rapidly. Advances in formulation technology are improving product stability and reducing sensitivity to environmental conditions, leading to more consistent performance.
At the same time, new classes of biological solutions, including metabolites, peptides, and RNA-based technologies, are emerging. These innovations offer enhanced precision and effectiveness, with some capable of targeting pests in ways similar to conventional chemistries while maintaining a favourable environmental profile.
Complementary Today, Transformational Tomorrow
While biologicals are unlikely to completely replace synthetic chemistries in the near term, they are already enabling reduced reliance on chemicals in certain crops and regions. In some cases, growers are achieving production with minimal or even zero detectable residues at harvest.
Looking forward, the continued expansion of biological tools will support the development of fully integrated programs. These systems, built on a diverse toolbox of solutions, have the potential to significantly reduce, and in some cases replace, conventional chemical use over time.
A Rapidly Advancing Industry
Over the past two decades, biological crop protection has evolved from a niche segment to a mainstream component of modern agriculture. As adoption grows, so too does collective knowledge, driving further innovation and improving outcomes across the industry.
The take-away message is clear: integrated approaches that combine biologicals and chemistries are essential for sustainable, effective resistance management. They already provide growers with effective solutions and will play a central role in the future of crop protection.