EcoSMART Introduces New Botanical Pesticides
by Justin Thomas, Virginia on 11. 2.05
EcoSMART makes pesticides derived from natural plant oils — they call these "botanical pesticides". Their products are being used by the conventional and rapidly growing organic product markets. Many of their products are USDA organic compliant. The company has just introduced a new line of botanical pesticides named EcoPCO "X".
Unlike most botanical products, these EcoPCO "X" products are unscented. They utilize new technology developed by EcoSMART that involves the use of pyrethrum or piperonyl butoxide (PBO) with plant essential oils. Unfortunately, PBOs have a "low to moderate" potential to contaminate groundwater (see more information here). There's an FAQ about botanical pesticides here. :: EcoSMART
If it's not natural it's super natural! Pesticides hurt the ecosystem because a lot of times because they kill the 'good bugs' along with the 'bad' bugs. The 'good' bugs are usually the predators who feast on the 'bad' bugs and not your crops (think lady bugs and aphids). Predators usually reproduce slower than prey (think lions and gazelles). Thus, once the pesticides wear off and the bugs return, guess who you will have more of...All pesticides, botanical, man-made or not, come from the earth. Where else could they come from? The fact is that organic growers who use less pesticides and chemical fertilizers have to work harder, aka spend more time in the field. That is the solution! Smaller farms!
If it's not natural it's super natural! Pesticides hurt the ecosystem because a lot of times because they kill the 'good bugs' along with the 'bad' bugs. The 'good' bugs are usually the predators who feast on the 'bad' bugs and not your crops (think lady bugs and aphids). Predators usually reproduce slower than prey (think lions and gazelles). Thus, once the pesticides wear off and the bugs return, guess who you will have more of...All pesticides, botanical, man-made or not, come from the earth. Where else could they come from? The fact is that organic growers who use less pesticides and chemical fertilizers have to work harder, aka spend more time in the field. That is the solution! Smaller farms!