Lakhasly

ABSTRACT A global rise in population and environmental degradation pose challenges to agricultural productivity world- wide, compelling the need for new strategies to tackle abiotic stress, pathogens, and other pests.Aside from that, the constant use has led to irremediable dam- ages to nature, encircling ecological imbalance, environmental pollu- tion, health threats, the abatement of biodiversity, the diminution ofThese considerations have mandated the need for alternative approaches such as the utilization of bio-pesticides, comprising biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, and plant-incorporated protectants, to preserve agriculture output, enhance plant growth, and compensate for the reduced use of synthetic pesticides.Although chemical pesticides have had a significant impact on boosting agricultural output throughout the years, this aspect also has negative implications involving elevated levels of toxicity impacting animals, plants, humans, and other terrestrial and aquatic beings [3].Pests, including pathogens, weeds, invertebrates, and insects, are triggering considerable crop failures, as nearly 10,000 insects, 30,000 weeds, 1000 nematodes, and 100,000 other microbial species have been reported to exhibit detrimental effects on crops [2].Synthetic pesticides are widely deployed to restrain excessive crop los- ses, but the extended and inappropriate usage of these synthetic pesti- cides has resulted in mounting resistance among these organisms.Bio-pesticides derived from microbial sources (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) are gaining much prominence due to their sustainability, non- toxic nature, and specific action against target species.1.

ABSTRACT
A global rise in population and environmental degradation pose challenges to agricultural productivity world-
wide, compelling the need for new strategies to tackle abiotic stress, pathogens, and other pests. Despite
increasing crop yields, the Green Revolution has not achieved sustainable agriculture, largely due to indis-
criminate use of chemical pesticides. Extensive use of synthetic pesticides elicits a persistent impact on the
ecosystem, besides affecting the health of humans, animals, and other non-target beings. These considerations
have mandated the need for alternative approaches such as the utilization of bio-pesticides, comprising
biochemical pesticides, microbial pesticides, and plant-incorporated protectants, to preserve agriculture output,
enhance plant growth, and compensate for the reduced use of synthetic pesticides. Bio-pesticides derived from
microbial sources (viruses, bacteria, and fungi) are gaining much prominence due to their sustainability, non-
toxic nature, and specific action against target species. Moreover, they are also non-pathogenic and have been
shown to promote the growth of agricultural crops. Therefore, they are rendered as promising choices in inte-
grated pest management where less dependency on chemical agents is desired. Up until now, several microbial
biocontrol agents have been recognized, mass-produced, and effectively formulated for commercial availability
as bio-pesticides. Additionally, a few have achieved dominant positions in the market. This review highlights the
sources, mode of action, and formulation of microbial bio-pesticides and provides an insight into their associated
merits in the agricultural sector. It also emphasizes the commercialization and global market potential of mi-
crobial bio-control agents, paving the way for sustainable agriculture.

1. Introduction
   The agricultural produce has to be augmented by up to 70 %, as the
   universal population is estimated to reach 9.1 billion by the year 2050
   [1]. Pests, including pathogens, weeds, invertebrates, and insects, are
   triggering considerable crop failures, as nearly 10,000 insects, 30,000
   weeds, 1000 nematodes, and 100,000 other microbial species have been
   reported to exhibit detrimental effects on crops [2]. Although chemical
   pesticides have had a significant impact on boosting agricultural output
   throughout the years, this aspect also has negative implications
   involving elevated levels of toxicity impacting animals, plants, humans,
   and other terrestrial and aquatic beings [3]. Despite the implementation
   of 3 billion tons of synthetic chemical pesticides every year, crop pests
   cause anticipated losses of about 40 % to worldwide crop yields [4].
   Synthetic pesticides are widely deployed to restrain excessive crop los-
   ses, but the extended and inappropriate usage of these synthetic pesti-
   cides has resulted in mounting resistance among these organisms. They
   pose negative effects on soil biodiversity, such as decreasing soil respi-
   ration and the activity of macroorganisms, and they also render the soil
   brittle. Aside from that, the constant use has led to irremediable dam-
   ages to nature, encircling ecological imbalance, environmental pollu-
   tion, health threats, the abatement of biodiversity, the diminution of