The future of crop protection

A new KTN report by Dr Liliya Serazetdinova discusses novel approaches for crop protection and highlights recent innovations from UK companies.

The use of pesticides in agriculture has become a controversial discussion point. Pesticides have a significant role to play in increasing agricultural production around the world and improving food safety. However, due to an increasing awareness of potential adverse effects of pesticides on the safety of foods and on the environment, a shift from scientific to political influence, and from risk- to hazard-based assessment, regulatory bodies in the EU are now increasingly restricting their use. This in turn limits the range of chemicals that farmers can use to control pests and diseases as well as when and where they can be used.

The development of new and safer pest control methods, including alternatives to widely used chemical pesticides, has become a serious priority for the entire agri-food industry. This new KTN report provides examples of some novel approaches for crop protection that have the potential to become more mainstream in the future, and UK companies that are developing them.

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The report looks at the current state of the crop protection market, emphasising the need for effective crop protection methods if we are to continue to improve agricultural production, balanced against identified issues with the current use of pesticides. As a result of growing consumer concerns and regulatory pressure, farmers are increasingly facing a reduction in the range of crop protection chemicals they can use. The development of new and safer pest control methods, including alternatives to widely used chemical pesticides, has become a serious priority for the entire agri-food industry.

Crop protection solutions that are discussed in the report include:

• Extending the use of existing agrochemicals
• Biopesticides
• Biological solutions
• Peptide hormones
• RNAi
• Gene editing
• GM insects

The report also takes a look at novel solutions inspired by technologies originating from other disciplines, such as:

• Precision agriculture approaches
• Magnetic induction heating
• Electricity
• Hot foam

The paper provides examples of some novel approaches for crop protection developed by UK small companies and start-ups, and also flags up the ongoing need for private investment in agri-tech to further advance the sustained public investments and technical excellence within the UK, and to enable start-up companies to fund the scale up of their technologies.

You can download the report here.

Dr Liliya Serazetdinova said:

“I am delighted with the publication of this KTN report, which reflects the breadth and depth of KTN interactions with UK companies and academic organisations developing crop protection technologies and products, farmers and growers, as well as regulators and policymakers. I was fortunate to have many stimulating discussions about this subject with the members of the KTN Plant Sector Advisory Board, partners of the nEUROSTRESSPEP project, as well as members of the SCI Agrisciences Group. I hope that this report will provide clarity for those who would like to understand the issues and opportunities within the current state of the crop protection solutions, and will be used in a wider sense to stimulate and support innovation in this area.”

Dr Jayne Brookman, Head of Agri-Food, KTN, said:

“I would like to thank Liliya for producing such a thought-provoking paper and wish her every success in her new role as Head of Business Development and Impact at the Ealrham Institute. Anyone wishing to find out more about our work in the plant sector please contact Chris Danks in the AgriFood team, to find out more about the Earlham please contact Liliya directly through the Earlham website.”

KTN is a project partner in EU funded project nEUROSTRESSPEP*, led by the University of Glasgow, which aims to develop novel, insect species specific biocontrol agents based on the use of peptides that interfere with pest insect neurological functions while leaving non-pest species unaffected. KTN’s role is to provide advice on market needs, enabling stakeholder engagement, and facilitating discussion on exploitation routes.

If your company is developing a new crop protection solution or requiring funding or support with implementing and testing new crop protection solutions, or looking for investors, please speak to the Agri-Food Team at KTN.

 

* nEUROSTRESSPEP has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 634361