Status report on global Neem usage - Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal

SOURCES:
• mainly. Schmutterer (1995): The Neem Tree...
3. NEEM AS A NON-SYNTHETIC PESTICIDE
• Govindachari, T.R., Suresh, G., Gopalakrishnan, G., Banumathy, B. and Masilamani, S.
(1998): Identification of Antifungal Compounds from the Seed Oil of Azadirachta indica,
Phytoparasitica 26 (2),
• Musabyimana, T. & Saxena R.C. (1999): Efficacy of Neem Seed Derivatives against
Nematodes Affecting Banana, Phytoparasitica 27 (1): 43-49.
3.3 Comparison of Neem with Other Pesticides
Neem’s most striking advantage in comparison to synthetic pesticides is that it is not toxic to
warm-blooded organisms, which means that neem and its components do not pose a danger
to users, consumers or pets. Furthermore, in spite of its broad spectrum of activity in the field
of pest control, neem is harmless to the majority of beneficial organisms (including honey
bees). The same applies to fish and birds; no neem residues have been found in soil or
water to date (5, 13, 19, 20,). Trials with insect and mammal cells revealed that the active
ingredients showed specific effects in the insect cells where the active ingredient did not
interfere with the physiology of mammals. In addition to these noteworthy ecological
characteristics, certain other requirements have to be met in order to establish neem as a
modern, non-synthetic pesticide. A series of positive aspects can be listed in favour of neem
in this respect:
• high level of efficacy
• long-term application with low risk of pest resistance developing, since many of the
agents differ in their mode of action
• specific effects on pests, while safe for humans and with only minimal side-effects on
non-target organisms
• generally good availability due to its geographical distribution
• a range of technologies can be employed
• limited persistency; i.e. rapid breakdown to harmless metabolites
• usage possible for many years thanks to the seeds
In addition neem offers a range of further advantages over other pesticides:
• Strengthening the plants treated: plants’ ability to withstand pest attack is increased as is
their threshold resistance to pests and disease. For example, following application of
neem for several years in citrus plantations, there was a positive physiological effect due
to plants becoming more robust. The levels of secondary parasites and diseases are
significantly reduced and their threshold resistance is raised.
• Plant nutrition: raw materials from neem contain many macro and micro nutrients, in addition
to which neem regulates micro-organisms in the soil which have beneficial effects
on nutrition
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