BPDB: Bio-Pesticides DataBase

The University of Hertfordshire announced the launch of a new database on biopesticides which complements the existing Pesticide properties Database and the Veterinary Substance database. The new system currently holds around 450 records in biocontrol agents ranging from naturally derived substances to insect predators.

Biopesticides can be described as crop protection products that have been derived from natural sources. They include naturally occurring chemicals, pheromones, bacteria, fungi and insect predators. Whilst in many instances the environmental risks of these substances is considered to be less than that of the more traditional chemical pesticides this is not always the case. Data to support risk assessments is scarce and currently there is no single, reliable comprehensive data source.

The University of Hertfordshire’s is a respected source of data for both the more traditional agricultural pesticides (PPDB) and veterinary substances (VSDB). To compliment they now offer the BioPesticide DataBase (BPDB) which is a comprehensive relational database of data relating to pesticides derived from natural substances. Contact the database management team: aeru(a)herts.ac.uk