Bridging the gap: Moving botanical insecticides from the laboratory to the farm

I have previously argued that there are a number of plant species widely occurring in Africa − both endemic and introduced − that are suitable for the production of botanical insecticides, and that less attention should be paid to further discovery of bioactive plant species and more attention placed on the development of botanicals from those plants we already know. To put those plant species to work for pest management, we need the following: (i) methods for local propagation and cultivation to ensure a sustainable supply of biomass; (ii) simple methods: for extraction utilizing available resources at minimal cost; (iii) simple methods: (e.g., bioassay) to validate bioactivity and ensure some measure of efficacy; and (iv) field trials and demonstrations to learn timing and application strategies that can optimize efficacy. Appropriate technologies for the utilization of botanical preparations for insect control will differ depending on the scale, from the “do-it-yourself” smallholder farmer, to a cottage- or village-level collective, to private-sector industry.