Trends in Formulation of Microorganisms and Future Research Requirements

Abstract

In this book, key features of organisms and targets for their application have been combined to divide the subject of formulation into nine areas, each served by a chapter. Recurrent themes in these chapters show general trends in the improvement of formulation, and combine to give a good indication of its future. Early research papers investigating potential new organisms usually spoke airily of promising results, often like love affairs between scientists and their science. Further investigations in the harsh reality of field use for pest and disease control made it abundantly obvious that progress in attempts to better the natural performance of the organisms required eventual commercialization of well-formulated products, because most efforts to make organisms available by government and communal projects petered out. Therefore from the earliest stages of investigation the final goal, i.e. potential commercial products, should be kept firmly in view during research design. Although, initially, formulation was neglected, it has since been taken seriously in all subject areas and is well advanced in some.