b"It doesn't really lead to a buildup in the environment because it's a biological product, and it tends to be degraded quite efficiently by natural systems, Donly added. This makes it a lot easier to integrate it into an IPM system.He cautions that excitement over a new mechanism of insecticide does not mean the product is perfect. (Biopesticides) are relatively slow compared to syntheticsand research so far has indicated that resistance is possible, so implementation of it does need to be managed quite conservatively, he said.Donly maintained the use of all novel mechanisms for pest control should always be accompanied with very defined and specific strategies to mitigate resistance development.Vikram Bisht, a plant pathologist and potato specialist with Manitoba Agriculture, told Spud Smart he believes a product like Calantha offers a lot of promise for Canadian potato producers because of its new, novel mode of action. Molecular biology is coming into the forefront, he said. It is going to be a very valuable tool if it is introduced.We have insecticide resistant populations (of CPB) all across the country, and they have varying level of resistance to the insecticides. Prior to its approval by the Environmental Protection Agency in In some places, newer products have been tried and they are notthe U.S., Calantha was tested extensively in field trials in the United working very well. If we are able to rotate the chemistries, in this caseStates and Canada. At the potato plots pictured here, the product a mode of action that is different, it will reduce the population ofdevelopment team at GreenLight Biosciences is working on fine tuning farmer use recommendations for the biopesticide. those potentially resistant populations, Bisht added. PHOTO: GREENLIGHT BIOSCIENCESSPUDSMART.COMSpring 202445"