As legal cannabis farms take the spotlight, safer methods of pest control are also taking root in more ‘mainstream’ agriculture.
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Regulators point out that there aren’t any pesticide products with federal approval specific to cannabis yet, but states like California and Colorado have set forth lists of acceptable and unacceptable methods under their own laws. Those seemingly safer methods include common substances like citric acid and sulfur as well as numerous biopesticides, which use living microorganisms and certain natural chemicals to fight plants’ tiny pests.
According to Pam Marrone, founder and CEO of Marrone Bio Innovations(MBI), these kinds of bio-methods have the potential to protect consumers, crop revenues, and the environment on a whole new level — and cannabis farms could help lead the way to this all-around greener future.
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Marrone has worked continuously to develop and promote such biologically based methods for deterring pests and strengthening plants, including during intrapreneurial stints at Monsanto and Abbott Labs.
In 2006, she founded MBI in order to “discover and develop effective and environmentally responsible, biologically-based products for pest management and plant health,” and has since taken the company public and shown impressive sales growth to date.
Read full, original article: Cannabis Is Creating A Boom For Biological Pesticides
