1.6 Formulation viability
Shelf life of the formulations decides the commercialization of biocontrol agents. Formulations should support the viable nature of the product for the increased period of storage. Bio control product should have the minimum shelf life of 8-12 months for industrialization. Carrier material should not affect the viable nature of the biocontrol agent. Commercialization of the bioproducts is mainly hampered due to the poor shelf life. Hence research should be concentrated to increase the shelf life of the formulation by developing superior strains that support the increased shelf life, or the organic formulations that support the maximum shelf life with low level of contaminants must be standardized for making biocontrol as a commercial venture.
11.1.7 Toxicology
Safety and environmental considerations could not be taken for granted and it is crucial that biopesticides are regulated in an appropriate way to confirm the international standards. The regulatory environment is generally favorable for the bio-pesticides than the chemical pesticides. However the cost of carrying out the toxicological study for registration is still prohibitive. Toxicology includes information of antagonist on the safety to men, plants, animals and soil microflora. Cost incurred for the toxicological studies is high. These studies have to be done separately for each and every biocontrol organism separately. The huge investment on the toxicological studies warrants for the linkages between stakeholders and research organizations (Jeyarajan and Nakkeeran, 2000; Sabitha Doraiswamy et al., 2001).
11.1.8 Industrial linkages
The research institutes carry out the initial discovery of an effective organism, genetic manipulation of organisms to develop superior strains, and studies on mechanisms, field efficacy and protocols for the development of formulations. But to take this technology to entire country depends on the partnership between the stakeholders and institutes. Corporate resources are required for the large-scale production, toxicology, wide scale field-testing, registration and marketing. Entrepreneurship may be defined as the exchange of intellectual property for research grants, and a royalty stream, with the establishment of University – Industry partnership for the benefit of both. The first requirement for the entrepreneurship requires a patent application on the strain and the related technology, especially on the efficacy data, identity of the organism, toxicological data and delivery