Developing natural pesticides

Fostering the development and use of safe agricultural pest control products and the use of integrated pest management approaches to minimise adverse impacts on ecosystems and on non-target species.

Brazilian research published in 1999 shows that milk is a faster and more effective fungicide against powdery mildew Sphaerotheca fuliginea, which appears as a powdery white growth on the leaves of cucumbers and courgettes (zucchini). It damages the plants by causing the leaves to shrivel up. At present, only chemical fungicides are available.