The emerging bioherbicide market offers an alternative tool
From fertility to soil health to pest control, biologicals are opening up a realm of natural possibilities for farmers. Next up, they could provide weed control.
Simply put, the bioherbicide category of biologicals includes microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses or fungi, microbial metabolites and plant extracts that target a specific weed. But that’s where the simplicity ends.
“Crop selectivity is very challenging with bioherbicides,” explains Jim Spadafora, director of product development and technical services for AgBiome. “You’re trying to find technology to control a specific plant surrounded by the crop - a population of other plants.”
Yet, the challenges faced by synthetic chemicals today — resistance issues, society concerns and a relatively slow pipeline — make bioherbicides a sector ripe for innovation, Spadafora says.
“Several are on the market, but the world needs more powerful and selective bioherbicides,” he says.
Pieces of the Puzzle
Bioherbicides fall into two main categories, says Mark Trimmer, managing partner of DunhamTrimmer, a market research company focused on the global biological agricultural markets. They are:
- Contact and non-selective products mainly based on plant oils, which are applied at high rates to strip the cuticles from the weeds and desiccate them. These provide no residual or below-ground control.
- Highly selective microbial-based bioherbicides that control one or two weed species.
“Where we see the opportunity in future for bioherbicides is companies finding a microbial that can control problematic resistant weeds,” Trimmer says. “Biologicals and chemicals both benefit when they are integrated together.”
Bio-Based Solutions
One of the few bioherbicides on the market is Homeplate from Certis Biologicals. It’s formulation of caprylic and capric acids allows for fast burndown and control of weeds by disrupting plant cell walls and removing the protective wax on the leaf tissue. As a result, the weed suffers from dehydration and dies.
Homeplate is labeled for use on numerous row crops and specialty crops and weed damage can be seen in just a few hours after spraying. It can control weeds such as henbit, black nightshade, Canada thistle, chickweed, common lambsquarter, foxtail and more.
“It is so flexible in terms of where it can be used and in what crops,” says Mike Allan, vice president of North America for Certis Biologicals. “It works so efficiently and can be applied in conjunction with glyphosate and glufosinate to reduced rates per acre. We’ve done trials with Homeplate and conventional products at reduced rates to prove a faster burndown – sometimes by hours than what they’d normally see.”
Biopesticide use in row crops is projected to reach $1.9 billion by 2030 with bioherbicides accounting for <$100 million.
Source: DunhamTrimmer
For more: Read Farm Journal’s guide to unlocking the mystery of microorganisms.
