Biorational methods for effective pest control management in stored products for agricultural sustainability

Storage grain infestation is a critical problem, with insect pests and rodents causing economic losses and reductions in the quality of food grains and food products. It has been assessed as affecting 9% of goods in developed countries and more than 20% of goods in developing countries. The chemical insecticides used for storing products protect against insect pests, but introduce hazards associated with handling insecticides and the residues on food, which threaten nontarget organisms, and so represent a serious problem to the environment. Biorational methods are low risk, are obtained from animals, plants, bacteria and some minerals, and are segregated into microbial, plant-associated protectant and biochemical substances. This method encompasses temperature management, modified atmospheric storage, ionizing irradiation, the mixing of inert materials, pheromone traps, botanicals, insect growth regulators, entomopathogens and host plant resistance. Biorational methods have emerged as alternative or supplemental pest control methods. Biopesticides would help in preventing the use of large quantities of pesticides across the globe, thus providing residue-free food and a safe environment for living. Further investigation is needed to integrate these elements to enhance the efficacy, minimize the losses and diminish the reliance on pesticides for the preservation of stored commodities.