Microbial pesticide hazard testing is challenging as the current testing guidelines are developed for chemical pesticides and do not take into account microbial pesticides’ unique properties. The impacts of having guidelines that are not specific to microbial pesticides include greater resource costs to developers and regulators, a reduction in the ability to bring innovation to agriculture and the bioeconomy, and ultimately reduced availability of these lower-risk alternatives in the marketplace. Additionally, there is growing interest in reducing animal testing in relation to pesticide registration. Significant work is underway to research and develop new approach methodologies (NAMs) and other non-animal methods as alternatives for traditional mammal (human health) testing with conventional pesticides.
The OECD plays a central role in coordinating these efforts at the international level. However, no work has been done to develop such alternatives for microbial pesticides. Microbial pesticide testing needs to keep pace with these innovations and developments in hazard testing, these products could lose a significant competitive market advantage over conventional pesticide products.
The goal of the conference was to develop, agree upon, and begin to implement a work plan to improve current test guidelines for microbial pesticides. This includes improving the nontarget organism (e.g., birds, fish, bees) test guidelines for microbial pesticides and establishing the framework for future mammalian test guidelines using NAMs and/or other novel approaches.
Speakers with expertise in NAMs development, toxicology, and mammalian biology, as well as microbial pesticide testing expertise, have spoken on regulatory needs and requirements, the background related to non-animal method development and current methods, and opportunities for applying or adapting those methods or developing new ones for microbial pesticides. Similar to the speakers for the nontarget organism testing sessions, speakers with relevant expertise in hazard testing were invited from academic, government, non-profit, and industry sectors. They spoke about regulatory needs and requirements, problems associated with the current nontarget organism guidelines, and potential solutions for adapting and improving current guidelines or establishing new ones.
The desired outcome of this workshop was to move towards a more efficient regulatory process for microbial pesticide products by improving the reliability and applicability of hazard data that support microbial pesticide registration applications, and their review and risk assessment by regulators. The conference and its work products promoted innovation in microbial pesticide testing supporting the development and regulatory approval of alternative pesticide products that are critical tools in improving sustainability in agriculture.
