GOVERNMENT POLICY AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF BIOPESTICIDES

Biopesticides developed and used in the future will emerge against the backdrop of the environmental effects associated with the use of conv entional pesticides and government policies designed to control these effects. In the final analysis, farmers' choices on pesticides will be influenced by the prevailing costs and benefits of conventional pesti cides and their alternatives including biopesticides. The outlook for pesticide use is complicated, though some directions can be perceived. There are a number of factors that will serve potentially to impact p esticide use which in turn will affect the development of biopesticide s. These include pesticide regulation, the FAIR Act, the crops planted , the management of ecologically-based systems, and consumer demand fo r 'green' products. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .