Nichino India has launched a novel insecticide that is designed to help rice and paddy field farmers across the country go about targeting brown plant hoppers, which are known to cause severe damage to rice plantations, without damaging beneficial insects and the overall environment.
The 'Orchestra' insecticide makes use of a chemical called benzpyrimoxan, which quickly disposes of brown plant hoppers, including those sub-species that may have developed resistance to other pesticides. What's more, this novel insecticide is not harsh towards insects such as ladybirds, honeybees, damselfies and spiders, which are either totally harmless in farms or can in fact play an effective role in mounting a natural fightback against pests such as the brown plant hopper.
Ultimately, the advent of 'Orchestra' is part of a growing push towards novel insecticides that are harsh towards their intended target but mitigate collateral damage to other species and the environment at large.
Image Credit: Nichino India
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Selective Insecticides
- The emergence of selective insecticides that target specific pests without harming beneficial insects or the environment, creating an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the agrochemical industry.
- Pest-resistant Crops
- The development of pest-resistant crops that reduce the need for harmful insecticides and promote sustainable farming practices, creating opportunities for innovation in the agricultural biotech industry.
- Natural Pest Control
- The increasing focus on natural pest control methods that harness the power of beneficial insects and microbes, creating opportunities for disruptive innovation in the organic farming industry.
Where This Applies
- Agrochemicals
- The agrochemical industry can explore the development of new, targeted insecticides to protect crops while lowering the overall environmental impact.
- Agricultural Biotech
- The agricultural biotech industry can research and develop new pest-resistant crop varieties to reduce the need for harmful insecticides and promote more sustainable farming practices.
- Organic Farming
- The organic farming industry can innovate natural pest control methods that harness the power of beneficial insects and microbes to protect crops and promote sustainability.
