Harnessing Biofertilizers and Biopesticides for Sustainable Agriculture
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.67601/njbls.v3i2b.85Keywords:
Microbial Inoculants, Soil Health, Nanobiotechnology, Azobacter, Arbuscular mycorrhizalAbstract
Agricultural systems are increasingly affected by soil degradation, declining fertility, crop pests, diseases and climate-related stresses. Conventional farming has relied extensively on synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, but excessive use can contribute to environmental contamination, disruption of beneficial organisms, resistance development and food-safety concerns. Biological inputs provide an alternative or complementary strategy for improving crop production while reducing unnecessary dependence on synthetic agrochemicals. Biofertilizers contain beneficial microorganisms that improve nutrient availability through processes such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphorus solubilization, potassium and zinc mobilization, sulfur transformation and production of plant-growth-promoting compounds. Biopesticides include microbial agents, plant extracts, biochemical substances, pheromones, insect growth regulators and plant-incorporated protectants. These products can suppress pests through competition, antibiosis, parasitism, infection, feeding deterrence, reproductive disruption or interference with insect development. The review shows that biological agricultural inputs are expanding globally and have considerable potential in Africa. Nigeria possesses substantial agricultural land, biodiversity and scientific capacity that could support locally adapted biological products. Nevertheless, adoption is constrained by inconsistent product quality, storage problems, limited farmer knowledge, regulatory challenges, variable field performance and the relatively slow action of some biopesticides. Biofertilizers and biopesticides should therefore be integrated with other sustainable practices rather than treated as universal replacements for synthetic inputs. Future progress will depend on improved microbial strains, stable formulations, rigorous field validation, quality assurance, farmer training, supportive regulation and carefully evaluated nanobiotechnology. Such integration could improve soil health, crop productivity, environmental protection and food security.
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