Environmentally friendly pesticides are characterized by their ultra-high efficiency, low or minimal toxicity, ease of degradation, and low residue levels. They have a negligible impact on non-target organisms and agricultural ecosystems. The primary categories include the following:
Plant-Derived Pesticides
These pesticides are extracted from natural plants. They degrade readily in the natural environment and pose virtually no risk of harmful residues.
Representative examples: Azadirachtin, natural pyrethrins, matrine, osthole, berberine, ethylicin, etc.
Characteristics: Derived from the secondary metabolites of plants, these substances are safe for humans and livestock. They are less likely to induce pest resistance, making them the preferred choice for green and organic agriculture.
Microbially-Derived Pesticides
These products function either through microbial fermentation or the direct application of living microorganisms. They are highly targeted and ecologically friendly.
Insecticides: Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), nucleopolyhedroviruses, spinetoram, etc.
Fungicides: Kasugamycin, polyoxins, validamycin, ningnanmycin, Trichodermaspecies, etc.
Characteristics: These agents leverage the natural parasitic or pathogenic capabilities of microorganisms to precisely control target pests. They do not accumulate in the environment and demonstrate a high safety profile for non-target organisms, such as honeybees and beneficial predatory insects.
