The food industry has shown various developments, including technology applications, manufacturing techniques, consumer demands, and so on. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for organic and pesticide-free food increased as consumers perceived it as a healthier and safe option for consumption.

With respect to this, many people have started growing vegetables at home, and those who do not have the option to grow them at home have started turning to outlets that sell ‘pesticide-free’ vegetables grown using organic manure.

Thus, the demand for pesticide-free food is increasing at a continuous pace, and in order to meet this demand, farmers have also avoided using pesticides in their fields while searching for a safer alternative.

In this article, it is discussed how precision pest management processes can create a solution for the growing demand for organic and pesticide-free food.

What are precision pest management processes?

Precision pest management includes monitoring crops with advanced equipment such as sensors and cameras to analyze data collected by data analytics software in order to prepare pest management plans accordingly.

The prime purpose of precision pest management is to use technologies and strategies for monitoring, preventing, avoiding, and suppressing pests, weeds, and other living things that disrupt agricultural production processes directly or indirectly.

According to the BIS Research report, the global precision pest management market was valued at $1.74 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $4.39 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 16.43% during 2022-27.

To get more information, download this FREE sample report.

Precision pest management solutions have recently gained popularity due to the reduction in pesticide usage and increased crop production. Moreover, rising awareness of advanced technologies with rural infrastructure improvements has fueled the growth of the precision pest management market.

Why are pesticide-free products in high demand?

Pesticides have been widely used in agricultural production as they reduce the damage to crops from insects, weeds, and germs. They also increase the yield of crops, vegetables, and fruits and fasten the growth process. However, the use of pesticides can also be very harmful by leading to certain fatal diseases, including cancer, Alzheimer, etc.

Some of the common side effects of pesticides in food are:

•    Pesticides can cause various diseases, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), damage to the nervous system, kidney defects, and also defects in the reproductive system.
•    Acute effects of pesticides are skin and throat irritation along with respiratory issues, nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, etc. 
•    Pesticides act as pollutants in the air, water channels, and soil that are highly toxic for birds, animals, and water lives.
•    Pesticides work as slow poisons. The consumption of these chemicals can affect human health gradually.

Thus, organic and pesticide-free food is in high demand, and many farmers have already started to grow crops without chemicals and pesticides through organic and precision pest management processes.

What is the importance of precision pest management?

In underdeveloped countries, farmers do not possess purchasing power of expensive seeds and organic manure, due to which they are not able to afford them. Through precision pest management, the focus is not only on increasing food production but also on maintaining price parity.

Precision pest management (PPM) majorly helps to avoid destruction caused by pests to increase productivity. PPM detects the presence of pests early with the help of crop monitoring in order to control them early and avoid further losses. This can help farmers to take appropriate actions in recovering from crop losses and improving the quality of yield. Technologies such as variable rate technology (VRT), sensor, and artificial intelligence-based spraying systems are all included in precision pest management and are essential to control damages and diseases that can harm crops while reducing the quantity and quality of produced grain.

Advanced technologies and equipment used in precision pest management have made agriculture automation more prevalent for farmers who aim to grow pesticide-free food. Digital innovation in agriculture technology provides enormous opportunities even for rural farming areas. Precision pest management also supports distinguishing impacted crops in excessive drying or humid conditions while preventing crops from weeds, pests, fungal infestations, and climate-related harm.

Conclusion

Due to the low pesticide and herbicide encouragement and increased demand for organic and pesticide-free crop production, the precision pest management market is expected to witness high growth demand. Moreover, governments are actively promoting precision pest management since it increases crop production with reduced environmental impact.

Interested to know more about the developing technologies in your industry vertical? Get the latest market studies and insights from BIS Research. Connect with us at hello@bisresearch.com to learn and understand more.