Could insecticide made from mushrooms kill insects and protect crops without creating toxic residue and runoff? If so they would be a breath of fresh air in our increasingly toxic environment. Many of the chemicals used in pesticides, like ammonia, arsenic, benzene, chlorine, dioxins, formaldehyde and glyphosate are dangerous to people. Widespread pesticide use is also one possible culprit for the decline in bee populations over the last decade.
Paul Stamets, an american fungus expert and researcher, claims that he has developed a modified form of fungus that doesn’t produce spores, which the insects devour and share with their comrades before being killed by its entomopathogenic, or insect-killing properties. More power to him and we hope to see these products coming to market once the research and testing is complete.