The bioenergy revolution is set to lead to the greatest transformation
of global agriculture in decades. This not only presents new risks and
challenges, but also opportunities to 'leapfrog' into more sustainable forms
of agriculture from the very start.
One of the areas in which significant progress has been made towards
more environmentally friendly agriculture is in the development of
integrated pest management by means of biopesticides - green pest control
methods using natural predators such as insects, fungi and bacteria. But
researchers at a University of Warwick conference warned yesterday that one
of the leading developers - the United Kingdom - could throw away a lead in
biopesticides because of outmoded styles of regulation.

Biopesticides are the subject of a conference for scientists and
industry experts being held at the University of Warwick this week, titled
?Biopesticides, the Regulatory Challenge?.

Professor Wyn Grant has led a three-year project with researchers at
Warwick HRI looking at biological alternatives to chemical pesticides. He
said globally the biopesticides market is worth ?158 million. The European
market has doubled in size in recent years, but the EU can only meet 45
percent of the demand for biopesticides.

As consumers ask for greener alternatives, and as organo-phosphates
are phased out, older pesticide licences are not being renewed. This is
creating a growing market for green alternatives such as biopesticides.
Sadly, says Grant, even though the UK is one of Europe?s main players in
this market, it could easily loose its first-mover advantage if red-tape
slows the sector down.

Biopesticides are much safer for humans and much more sustainable in
the long-term. However, our current regulatory system is set up for
synthetic pesticides ? it costs up to ?2.5m per product. This is a
particular problem because biopesticides are so targeted ? it means their
market is much smaller than the old-style kill-everything pesticides. -
Professor Wyn Grant

The researchers? warning follows a European Parliament debate last
week (24 October 2007) which rejected proposals to improve the regulation of
biopesticides by creating regional eco-zones.Professor Grant added that
Britain's Pesticide Safety Directorate has been an innovative regulator by
setting up a special Biopesticides Scheme, but that these efforts could be
undermined by not getting the right arrangements in place across the EU.

According to Grant, the European Parliament voted on new regulations
on pesticides and missed an opportunity to promote safer alternatives to
chemical products.

Biopesticide controls are often produced by small firms and the lack
of an internal market, because of the need to secure national regulatory
approval in each member state, hampers their ability to get safer products
to the market. - Professor Wyn Grant

The conference is sponsored by the Rural Economy and Land Use
Programme (RELU) and AgraQuest, a biotechnology company that focuses on
discovering, developing, manufacturing and marketing effective, safe and
environmentally friendly natural pest management products.
[biopact.com]