Organic Natural Plant-Based Pesticides

(www.Borganic.org) After a decade of research, scientists recently relayed at a major U.S. conference that the insecticidal properties of rosemary, thyme, clove and mint show great promise for the agriculture industry. Some of these herbal pesticides kill the bugs, while others repel them. In either case, the natural pesticides are being made by adding small amounts of the herb's essential oils to water and then spraying them on the plant. Often the oils of two or four herbs are mixed together.

This bright news comes on the heels of recent reports that household pesticides may be the reason so many children these days are being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. And let's be clear, people don't even put household pesticides in their mouths, as is common with agricultural pesticides. http://www.naturalnews.com/026873_p...

These herbal pesticides are currently being effectively used by farmers to protect organic strawberry, tomato and spinach crops against the destruction from mites and aphids, according to Dr Murray Isman, University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and the leader of the study.

The good news is these plant-based pesticides are natural and they don't involve putting any man-made chemicals on your food. Plus, insects are much less likely to develop resistance to them and they're safer for the people who work on the farms. When resistance develops with conventional chemical-based pesticides, often the solution is simply to spray more of those toxic chemicals on your favorite foods, or use even harsher chemicals.

Because these solutions are plant-based, they don't require extensive regulatory approval and are therefore immediately available for organic farmers, and even non-organic farms, who want to make a positive switch to protect our earth, our food, their workers, and their customers.

The only downside is that these natural pesticides can evaporate in the sun and they may need to be applied more often; their effects last a shorter period of time compared to chemical-based pesticides.

However, the fact that they don't remain on your food for a long time, even if they are plant-based and the essential oils are also used as flavorings in foods, should be seen as a plus for anyone who puts them in their mouths. And the fact that man-made chemicals linger is concerning.

These herbal solutions are also showing themselves to be effective for controlling bugs inside the home - like mosquitoes, fleas and roaches. They provide a pleasant spicy-scent, and many use the same essential oils found in aromatherapy products, like clove, cinnamon, and peppermint.

In fact, they've already developed a flea-repellent for dogs and cats that doesn't harm your pet. Researchers are now exploring the possibility of using the herbal formulas to kill E. coli and Salmonella on crops, as well.

http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/...
http://www.naturalnews.com/026873_p...

By Kim Evans Read full article here

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