31 Aug 2011

Symposium to discuss biological pest control

5:16 am on 31 August 2011

Experts from New Zealand and overseas are attending a symposium in Lincoln on chemical-free pesticides.

The Bio-Protection symposium is focusing on the use of microbes such as fungi for pest, weed and disease control.

Professor Travis Glare of the newly-formed Bio-Protection Research Centre says the use of synthetic pesticides is going to become more restricted over time and bio-protection is an alternative approach for both environmental and health reasons.

He says, such is the interest in the topic, that the one-day symposium on Wednesday is booked out.

Professor Glare says biological pest control products now make up 4% of world pesticide sales.