Technion Scientists Create Method to Reduce Pesticide Use 50%

Put bluntly, we simply do not do the best job of feeding all 8.3 billion people on Earth. As the World Food Program explains, 318 million people worldwide are facing “acute hunger” due to conflicts, economic conditions, and, particularly, the climate crisis.

According to the United Nations, plant health could be part of the solution to this issue. However, the UN also noted that plant disease is making it harder for us to maintain crops, with about 40% of the planet’s agricultural yield dying off before it ever reaches our plates. While pesticides have helped reduce pest populations, they have also introduced a range of issues, including potential alterations to the human immune system. But researchers from Israel report that they may have a simple solution that helps plants and reduces our dependence on pesticides.

In September, researchers published their findings in the journal Small, demonstrating that their product, SafeWax, may offer a more environmentally friendly way to protect crops. According to a release from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, the inspiration for SafeWax is actually plants themselves, specifically the “cuticle,” or the “natural waxy layer that covers plants such as lotus leaves and broccoli, enabling them to self-clean by repelling bacteria and other contaminants.”