Products for direct pest control allowed in organic production

Two types of products can be used for direct pest control in organic farming. These are homemade products and ready formulated products found in the market.

Homemade products

Homemade products are usually the preparation of various plant-based products called botanical or herbal products that can be used for direct pest control (in this case we are talking about botanical insecticides) or to enhance plant resistance. Botanical insecticides are made from extracts of toxic and non-toxic plants. Extraction of non-toxic, mostly medicinal and aromatic herbs such as nettle, onion, chamomile, wormwood, rosemary, etc., yields extracts that are non-toxic and can be sprayed at any stage of plant development. Many of these extracts have not been adequately studied, so their mechanism of action is unknown. They are mainly extracts that have no direct insecticidal effect on pests, but are characterized only by an indirect effect, such as the ability to repel insect pests or to strengthen the resistance of the plant. Some of the major preparations obtained using non-toxic herbs are Horsetail tea, Wormwood, Elderberry, Nettle. In addition to extracts from non-toxic plants, extracts from toxic plants can also be prepared on the farm, but because of the potential danger in their preparation, their preparation is more often carried out in factories. The preparation of herbal insecticides at home is reasonable if the following conditions are met:

• the people involved in the production must not be exposed to the risk of poisoning.
• production must not pose a danger to the environment.
• research has established that the products obtained are safe for the consumer.
• the raw material for the preparation of the extracts is readily available.
• the preparation is not expensive.
• there are no equally acceptable and effective preparations on the market.

Plants used to make herbal insecticides can be used fresh or dried. The best time to pick them is just before flowering and during the sunny period. Then they must be dried in a clean, ventilated and shaded place. The procedure for making insecticides from plants may vary. Many authors explain the different instructions, and in general all methods can be divided into cold and hot water extraction methods or alcohol extraction. Extraction is a method of separating essential from less important constituents of a medicinal plant. Herbs are most commonly used as preparations in the form of herbal tea, herbal soups, and herbal extracts.

Herbal tea is made by pouring boiling water over fresh or dried herbs and letting such a mixture steep, covered, for 10-15 minutes. This is followed by the straining process.

Vegetable soup is made when the prescribed amount of herbs is soaked in water for 24 hours, preferably in rainwater. Then the soup is brought to a boil and simmer on low heat for about half an hour. The soup should be cooled and strained after cooling.

Herbal extracts are made from fresh or dried herbs or parts of plants. Extraction involves pouring a solvent over dry or fresh plant parts. Although water is not the best solvent for extracting all compounds from plant parts, it is most acceptable for use when the process is done at home. Besides water, alcohol (ethanol) can also be used as a solvent in home preparation, while the use of methanol, chloroform, acetone, etc. is not recommended, as these are compounds considered hazardous substances.

Industrial products

Industrial products used for pest control in organic farming can be based on different active ingredients. The use of industrial plant protection products in organic production is regulated by Regulation 2018/848 of the European Parliament and the Council. According to the regulation, the use of certain plant protection products is allowed when the application of all methods described above does not provide sufficient protection. Only plant protection products authorised under Regulation (EC) No. 1107/2009 may be used after they have been evaluated and found to be in compliance with the objectives and principles of organic farming. Only the active substances listed in Annex I of COMMISSION IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2021/1165 may be contained in plant protection products used in organic production. Some of the authorised products belong to the so-called basic substances, others are authorised as products with a specific effect. Basic substances are active substances, not predominantly used as plant protection products but which may be of value for plant protection and for which the economic interest in applying for approval may be limited. Insecticides are mostly plant-based products (plant insecticides), living microorganisms (bacteria, viruses or fungi) and their by-products, and substances or compounds of organic or inorganic origin. An overview of the most important active substances for protection against insect pests, mites and snails that are permitted in organic production (EU Pesticide Database) is shown in Table 3.6.

Table 3.6 Active substances permitted for use against harmful insects, mites and snails in organic farming.

Category	Active ingredient	Mode of action	Applicability	Important information
Basic substances	Beer	Feeding attractant	Slugs and snails	It is used as a bait for slugs and snails only.
	Fructose	It stimulates the defense mechanisms of plants	Lepidoptera larvae in orchards, American grapevine leafhopper (Scaphoideus titanus)	A solution in cold water should be prepared immediately before use.
	L-cysteine	Preventive	Ants from genus Atta and Acromyrmex	L-cysteine should be used in a mixture with wheat flour or similar, food in a concentration of not more than 8%.
	Surcose	It stimulates the defense mechanisms of plants	Lepidoptera larvae in orchards, American grapevine leafhopper (Scaphoideus titanus), European Corn Borer (Ostrinia nubilalis)	A solution in cold water should be prepared immediately before use.
	Talk (E553B)	Creates a barrierpreventing pest feeding	Cacopsylla pyri, Cacopsylla fulguralis, Drosophila suzukii, Panonychus ulmi, Bactrocera oleae	The aqueous solution shall be prepared immediately before use and must be stirred at all times.
	Nettle extract	Industrial products obtained by different extraction processes (depending on the manufacturer)	Numerous pest species as are: aphids (Myzus persicae,Macrosiphum rosae, Eriosoma lanigerum, Cryptomyzus ribis, Callaphis juglandis, Myzus cerasi, Aphis fabae etc.), cabbage flea beetle (Phyllotreta nemorum), diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella)	Application by spraying or as mulch on the ground.
Substances of organic origin	Parafin oil	Due to its viscosity, it creates a coating on the body of harmful insects and closes the air vents (stigma) of harmful insects and mites.	Insecticide, acaricide	They are used for winter spraying or for spraying in vegetation.
	Plant oils	They show toxic and / or repellent effects. Due to their viscosity, some can act similarly to parafin and mineral oils.	Insecticide, acaricide	They can be essential, in which case they are a mixture of volatile and lipophilic compounds.
	Hydrolyzed proteins	Attractants, only in authorzed applications in combination with other appropriate products.	Different product for different pest species	Used for mass trapping.
	Mineral oil	Due to its viscosity, it creates a coating on the body of harmful insects and closes the air vents (stigma) of harmful insects and mites.	Insecticide, acaricide	They are used for winter spraying or for spraying in vegetation.
	Pelargonium acid and other acids from C7 to C20	It acts on all groups of pest organisms	Soft-bodied insects (aphids, whiteflyes, mites)	Applied by spraying
Substances of inorganic origin	Diamonium phosphate	It is used as bait for the method of mass trapping in orchards	Ceratitis capitata, Rhagoletis cerasi, Bactrocera oleae	Applied diluted in baits
	Sulfur	Although originally a fungicide it is known to have an acaricidal activity	Mites on different plant species: orchards, vinegrapes et.	Sulfur has a negative effect on beneficial predatory mites and this should be taken into account when making a decision on control.
	Diatomaceous earth	It works mechanically because coarse particles damage the cuticle of insects that lose moisture from the body and dehydrate.	The most common use against pests in warehouses	It is applied by spraying, less often as a powder.
	Ferric phosphate (iron (III) orthophosphate	It has an abrasive effect on the mucous membrane of snails.	Limacide	It is used against harmful snails in the form of baits
Microorganisms- viruses	Adoxophies orana granulovirus	It causes a lethal effect on caterpillars after feeding	Adoxophyes orana	Spray in the evening, adjust the dose to the height of the canopy. Application in orchards
	Cydia pomonella granulovirus		Cydia pomonella
	Helicoverpa armigera nucleopolyedrovirus		Helicoverpa armigera	It is used on vegetables.
Microorganisms- fungus	Isaria fumosorosea strain Apopka 97	A fungus that can be found in soils around the world	Trialeurodes vaporariorum	The pest is most susceptible to infection in the N1 and N4 stages of the nymph. The infection cycle is rapid and symptoms of infection are visible within 24-48 hours after the conidia get in contact with the insect.
	Akanthomyces muscarius strain Ve6, earlier Lecanicillium muscarium	A fungus that can be found all over the world in nature, in soils and in other organisms	Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Thrips sp.	Effective by direct contact and under the right environmental conditions kills larvae after 7-10 days. After spraying, spores germinate and grow, creating hyphae that penetrate the body cavity, where they multiply, destroying tissues. The fungus then grows through the cuticle of the insect and creates spores on the outside of the carcass, which can spread the infection to other whiteflies and thrips.
	Akanthomyces muscarius strain Ve6, earlier Lecanicillium muscarium	A fungus that can be found all over the world in nature, in soils and in other organisms	Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Thrips sp.	Effective by direct contact and under the right environmental conditions kills larvae after 7-10 days. After spraying, spores germinate and grow, creating hyphae that penetrate the body cavity, where they multiply, destroying tissues. The fungus then grows through the cuticle of the insect and creates spores on the outside of the carcass, which can spread the infection to other whiteflies and thrips.
	Beauveria bassiana	Spore fungi formulated as a powder (for use in storage) or as water-soluble granules to be applied by spraying.	Storage pests: (Oryzaephilus surinamensis, Sitophilus granarius, Cryptolestes ferrugineus) and pests in glashouses Frankliniella occidentalis, Thrips tabaci, Trialeurodes vaporariorum, Bemisia tabaci, Bemisia argentifolii	When spraying, the volume of water should be adjusted to the developmental stage of the crop.
	Metarhizium anisopliae var. anisopliae	Spore fungi formulated as granules for application in soil.	Phyllopertha horticola, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Amphimallon solstitialis	The granules need to be mechanically incorporated into the soil.
Microorganisms- bacteria	Bacillus thuringiensis sbsp. aizawai	Bacterial spores and crystals formulated in a spray preparation.	Defoliator caterpillars in pepper	Gastric poison, it acts only after the caterpillars (or CPB larva) take it into the digestive system together with the leaves.
	Bacillus thuringiensis sbsp. kurstaki		Wider application on other crops but always to control butterfly caterpillars.
	Bacillus thuringiensis sbsp. tenebrionis		Colorado potato beetle larvae
Derivates of microorganisms- naturalites	Spinosad	Spinosyns are biologically active substances obtained by fermentation from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosad is a mixture of spinosyn A and spinosyn D	Very wide range of action - used to control potato beetles, harmful caterpillars, thrips and moths on vegetable crops and fruit trees.	Permitted in organic production, but the justification of its application must be supported by data on the intensity of pest attacks.
Botanical insecticides	Azadirachtin	Extract obtained from Indian neem tree (Azadirachta indica)	Colorado potato beetle and many other pests	It acts as a growth regulator and also has a repellent effect.
	Pyrethrin	Pyrethrin is the common name for six active compounds: pyrethrin I, pyrethrin II, cinerin I, cinerin II, cinerin III, jasmolin I and jasmolin II isolated from the plant Chrysanthemun cinerariifolium.	Wide range of action. Controls many pests.	Pyrethrin acts almost immediately after contact. It works in smaller doses. Although a biological agent, it should be used sparingly and care should be taken not to come into contact with beneficial insects, such as ladybugs and honey bees. Pyrethrin degrades rapidly and is not retained in the environment. Caution, it decomposes poorly in water and binds very tightly to soil and organic matter.
Sexual pheromones	Lavandulyl senecioate	Naturally occurring arthropod pheromone with a non-toxic mode of action. A very targeted activity concerning one species is assumed.	Specific effect on the pest species, Planococcus ficus.	Manual application in passive dispensers for mating disruption
	Other sexual pheromones	Intended to attract males of certain species - there are a large number of registered pheromones.	Cydia pomonella, Adoxophyes orana, Pandemis heparana, Agrotis spp. Polychrosis botrana and others	They are used for confusion of males (see 3.4.1.)
Aggregation pheromones		They attract both sexes of insects and are suitable for mass trapping	Bothynoderes punctiventris etc.	They apply to mass trapping (see 3.4.1) and in some cases in area wide management programs.