Microalgae-based Biopesticides: Closing the Gap for a Circular Bio-Economy

By: Suzanne Osborne

To meet the dietary needs of a growing human population, safe pest management for food crops is essential. Synthetic pesticides have traditionally been used to limit crop losses from pests, but they are increasingly criticized for their long-term health, food safety and environmental risks.

Natural pesticides derived from plants, animals, microorganisms, and minerals offer an alternative to synthetic pesticides. Microalgae have recently emerged as a novel type of biopesticide; offering several unique qualities which set it apart from synthetics and other (mostly bacterial-based) natural products.