The latest alternative to pesticides

There is a continuing fight by environmentalists to reduce the use of pesticides, which are environmentally damaging, potentially harmful to human health and build resistance in the pests leading to a vicious circle of more and more pesticide usage. All sorts of crops are grown using pesticides including fruit, vegetables, grain and non food crops like cotton. Alternatives that do not use pesticides include organic crops or the use of crops that are not affected by pests and therefore do not need pesticides for example bamboo.

The latest discovery by scientists at Swansea University, School of Environment and Society led by Dr Minshad Ali Ansari and Professor Tariq Butt is a naturally occurring fungi that controls wireworm, a widespread potato pest in the UK. In testing the fungi showed a 90% success rate. The wireworm is the larvae of the click beetle, damages potatoes and other arable crops and severely reduces yields. Usually it is controlled with an insecticide which is applied to the soil. This fungi could well eliminate the need to use insecticide against this pest and giving a completely organic alternative solution.

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