A review on new horizons in biopesticide development highlighting microbial advances for Climate-smart agriculture

Sustainable plant protection is vital for continuing improved agricultural productivity and safeguarding global food security. Reliance on synthetic pesticides to mitigate pest outbreaks has led to unintended environmental and health-related concerns, including soil degradation, water pollution, and bioaccumulation within ecosystems. These challenges have accelerated the push for eco-friendly, sustainable pest management alternatives. Biopesticides derived from natural sources offer a promising solution due to their target specificity, environmental safety, and high compatibility with integrated pest management principles. Biopesticides include viruses, bacteria, fungi, parasites, predators, and pheromones, each with distinct mechanisms of action. Despite these advantages, limitations exist in registration, regulation and social acceptance of biopesticides. This review provides a comprehensive overview of biopesticide categories -microbial, phytochemical, and nanobiopesticides and their mechanisms of action, advantages, and limitations. Moreover, the emphasis is placed on microbial pesticides, which differ from their chemical counterparts in their ability to multiply in situ and exhibit long-lasting effects. This review further underscores the significance of biopesticides in fostering climate-smart agriculture, advancing public health, and achieving Sustainable Development Goal targets. This review also underscores the need for ongoing research, innovation, and public involvement to promote the acceptance and commercial success of biopesticide-based solutions in global agriculture.