Next Generation of Pesticides

The goals of many older pesticides were to work against the processes of nature in order to help the plants grow the best.  While producing the 'perfect' produce/vegetable they have inadvertently rearranged the order of nature on the most basic levels.  Now in modern agriculture in farming processes and consumerism has shifted toward the notion of "organic farming" and foods.  I understand why there has been such a shift in pest maintenance.   In other areas of agriculture such as cattle production there version of 'pesticides' have withdrawal dates such that the residue from the medicine can have time to leave there systems, so why would there be any difference in regards to plants and pesticides.  In class we brief talked about how the potatoes were listed as a pesticide but there are more that are similar situations as the potato.  Some of the other produce that is affected by this same situation are: strawberries, peppers, spinach, cherries (US), peaches, green beans, and winter squash. 

In order to stop the present of residue in our produce many pesticide companies have re-evaluated their current method of pesticide production.  Advances are being made agriculture in the direction of biopesticides which are derived from plants, microbes, or other natural materials and are proven to be safer for humans and the environment. With the new modern methods of pest control more and more people are moving towards the biopesticides which has active compounds that alert plant defenses to combat a range of diseases, including powdery mildew, gray mold and bacterial blight that affect fruits, vegetables and ornamentals. Currently we are transitioning from the synthesized chemical pesticides to the natural biopesticides, and in about ten years experts hope that we will all be using the biopesticides.  With the introduction of this new pest control method we are seeing a public that is more aware of what the chemical pesticides have done and now the American consumer in more aware and informed.

I just have one question, is the move towards biopesticides similar in respect to that of the Bt that the potatoes are regulating in the New Leafs or is the biopesticides completely different because they are working with nature without being shot into the plants genes.

 

Here is a link to an article on Biopesticides:  http://www.farmanddairy.com/news/new-biopesticide-for-organic-food-boom/10076.html