According to World Health Organization, pesticides kill 18,000 farm workers annually. With this information, there is a need to enforce environmental safety and improve human health. To address this need, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) developed a biopesticide called Bio-In 3, an environment-friendly alternative to the conventional synthetic pesticide.
Bio-In 3 is a plant-based, eco-friendly, biodegradable, and target-specific biopesticide, which is used to eliminate the pest, tomato fruitworm. Bio-In 3 is extracted from C. viscose, A. mexicana, E. hirta, and T. pandacaqui.
Biopesticides are made from naturally occurring substances, microorganisms, and substances derived from plants.
Leticia A. Lutap, Technology Generator and Research Director of MMSU, discussed the usage and benefits of the Bio-In 3 at a technoforum conducted at Robinson’s Place, Valencia, Bukidnon during the Cluster Farms and Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA) on Biofertilizer and Biopesticide.
Lutap mentioned that the Bio-In 3 is comparable to chemical pesticide in terms of effectiveness and it helped increase yield but with less damage to human health. She also mentioned that an increase in sales of 5% per year can be obtained through the help of Bio-In 3.
The FIESTA, which is conceptualized by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), aims to show the complete sphere of R&D as it treats with equal importance the whole agricultural value chain from production to processing to technology mainstreaming. It brings out the best in agri-aqua technologies, products, and services, and make these known to the public through this event.
Since its implementation in 2011, FIESTA gathers various players of agricultural R&D - the technology generators; farmers; and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), who will showcase regional technologies, innovations, products, and services in the agriculture, aquatic and natural resources (AANR) sector.
The Biofertilizer and Biopesticide FIESTA was organized by five Consortia of PCAARRD, with the Northern Mindanao Consortium for the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NOMCAARRD) as lead. Other consortia involved were Caraga Consortium for the Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CCAARRD); Southern Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (SMAARRDEC); Central Visayas Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development Consortium (CVAARRDEC); and Ilocos Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research and Development Consortium (ILAARRDEC).