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Cited by 31Agricultural safety and regulationsEntomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest ControlEnvironmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 48 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Microbial pesticides: challenges and future perspectives for non-target organism testing

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Karaoğlan, Bilgin, Alkassab, Abdulrahim T., Borges, Shannon, Fisher, Tom, Link-Vrabie, Cozmina, McVey, Emily, Ortego, Lisa, Nuti, Marco·2024·Environmental Sciences Europe
DOI 10.1186/s12302-024-01017-1
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Abstract

Biopesticides have received increasing global attention as environmentally friendly alternatives, allowing for more sustainable pest and disease control. In order to be registered or authorized for use, safety studies need to be submitted for regulatory risk assessments. However, it has been frequently reported that, in particular, microbial pesticides have a number of challenges when it comes to non-target organism testing. For instance, study results from such tests are often difficult to interpret or they lack consistency and accuracy. Reasons for this can be found firstly in the heterogeneity and resulting complexity of microbe-based pesticides comprising different taxonomic groups (e.g., bacteria, fungi, and viruses), and secondly in the lack of appropriate guidance for testing these different microbial agents considering their unique biological properties. The present review gives an overview of the available test guidelines by reflecting the current regulatory background in the area of environmental risk assessment of microbial pesticides and describes general and specific issues associated with safety studies on terrestrial vertebrates, aquatic organisms, bees, non-target arthropods other than bees, meso- and macro-organisms in soil, and non-target terrestrial plants. Proposals for improvement of existing test guidelines or guidance documents are provided and further discussed.

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Metadata

Authors
Karaoğlan, B., Alkassab, A. T., Borges, S., Fisher, T., Link-Vrabie, C., McVey, E., Ortego, L., & Nuti, M.
Affiliations
  • German Environment Agency (DE)
  • Julius Kühn-Institut (DE)
  • Environmental Protection Agency (US)
  • National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL)
  • Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna (IT)
Corresponding author
Karaoğlan, Bilgin
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Sciences Europe
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2024-12-09
Volume
36
Issue
1
ISSN
2190-4715 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1186/s12302-024-01017-1
OpenAlex
W4405190179
Cited by
31
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 21 · 2025: 10
FWCI
6.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental Sciences Europe (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PUBLISSO (German National Library of Medicine) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
  • Rivm (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) (submittedVersion)
  • OpenAgrar (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
Umweltbundesamt
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Agricultural safety and regulations
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Insect Science › Entomopathogenic Microorganisms in Pest Control
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Environmental Toxicology and Ecotoxicology
Keywords
microbial pesticides, biopesticides, environmental risk assessment, test guidelines, terrestrial vertebrates, aquatic organisms, bees, non-target arthropods, soil organisms, non-target plants

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Karaoğlan, B., Alkassab, A. T., Borges, S., Fisher, T., Link-Vrabie, C., McVey, E., Ortego, L., & Nuti, M. (2024). Microbial pesticides: challenges and future perspectives for non-target organism testing. Environmental Sciences Europe. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-024-01017-1

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