Warning. This technology has not yet been validated, because it is not yet ready to scale.

Beauveria Biopesticide: Based on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana

A Sustainable, Profitable Solution for Diamondback Moth and Beyond!

The technology is a biopesticide based on the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin, specifically the isolate Bb11 (Bba5653) from the IITA-Benin collection, found in Penessoulou, Benin. Originally designed to control the caterpillars of the cabbage moth (Plutella xylostella), also known as the diamondback moth, this natural fungus produces live spores called conidia. When applied to crops, these spores attach to the insect's cuticle (its outer layer), germinate, and penetrate the insect's internal tissues. The fungus then grows within the insect, causing rapid tissue damage and mortality. Safe for humans, animals, and beneficial insects, this biopesticide offers an eco-friendly, sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides. It is widely used as part of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies for protecting crops from pest damage in both open-field and protected agriculture settings.

This technology is not yet validated.

6•3

Scaling readiness: idea maturity 6/9; level of use 3/9

Climate adaptability: Moderately adaptable

Farmer climate change readiness: Moderate improvement

Biodiversity: Positive impact on biodiversity

Carbon footprint: A bit less carbon released

Environmental health: Greatly improves environmental health

Soil quality: Improves soil health and fertility

Water use: Same amount of water used

Problem

Crop damage from pests such as fall armyworm, stem borers, thrips, and aphids leads to significant yield losses across various staple and cash crops.
Resistance to chemical pesticides is increasing, reducing the effectiveness of conventional pest control methods.
Health and environmental risks associated with synthetic pesticides threaten pollinators, soil biodiversity, and farmer well-being.
Limited access to biological alternatives leaves smallholder farmers with few sustainable pest management options.
Climate change exacerbates pest pressure, requiring resilient, eco-friendly solutions for long-term crop protection.

Solution

Controls a broad range of pests: Effectively manages major crop pests such as the fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda), whiteflies, aphids, thrips, and stem borers through natural infection and colonization.
Safe for humans and the environment: Offers a low-toxicity alternative to synthetic pesticides, reducing health risks for farmers and consumers.
Preserves beneficial insects: Selectively targets pest species while sparing pollinators and natural enemies, helping maintain ecological balance.
Reduces pesticide resistance: Provides a biological mode of action that helps mitigate resistance problems often caused by chemical overuse.
Supports sustainable and organic agriculture: Compatible with integrated pest management (IPM) programs and certified organic farming systems.
Adaptable to various crops and conditions: Applicable on cereals, vegetables, fruits, and pulses under different agroecological zones.
Enhances soil health and biodiversity: Unlike chemical treatments, it leaves no toxic residues and contributes to healthier agroecosystems.

Key points to design your project

Beauveria bassiana (Bb11): A Sustainable Solution for Eco-Friendly Pest Management

Beauveria bassiana (Bb11) is a naturally derived biopesticide developed to combat destructive pests such as the diamondback moth, fall armyworm, stem borers, thrips, and aphids. Sourced from a locally validated fungal isolate (Bb11), this bio-based solution offers governments and development programs a cost-effective, environmentally responsible alternative to synthetic pesticides. It supports food security goals by reducing yield losses while preserving beneficial insects and soil health.

To integrate Beauveria bassiana (Bb11) into your agricultural initiative, follow these steps:

Estimate Product Requirements
Determine required quantities based on target crops and pest pressure. For example:
   - Cabbage and leafy vegetables: Apply every 7–10 days during infestations.
   - Maize or pulses: Adjust frequency based on pest monitoring, vegetative stage of the plant and climatic conditions.
Assess Local Availability
Verify if Bb11-based products are registered and available in the country. If importing, review logistics, regulatory approvals, and estimated costs.
Train Extension Agents and Farmers
Provide hands-on training for proper application—typically as foliar sprays under moderate temperatures and medium to high humidity. Emphasize early-stage pest targeting and compatibility with integrated pest management (IPM) practices.
Disseminate Awareness Materials
Develop and distribute flyers, videos, and radio content to inform farmers and stakeholders about the safety, usage, and effectiveness of Bb11.
Promote Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
Encourage the combination of Bb11 with resistant crop varieties, crop rotation, and other IPM tools to strengthen pest control and reduce pesticide resistance.
Foster Institutional Partnerships
Collaborate with research institutes, local agrodealers, and extension services to scale adoption and ensure continuous technical support.

By adopting Beauveria bassiana (Bb11), your program can enhance pest resilience, protect biodiversity, and promote sustainable, climate-smart agriculture at scale.

20 USD/day

Additional workforce required

50 USD/ha

Location cost for specialized tools

20 USD/day

Cost associated with training

Scaling Readiness describes how complete a technology’s development is and its ability to be scaled. It produces a score that measures a technology’s readiness along two axes: the level of maturity of the idea itself, and the level to which the technology has been used so far.

Each axis goes from 0 to 9 where 9 is the “ready-to-scale” status. For each technology profile in the e-catalogs we have documented the scaling readiness status from evidence given by the technology providers. The e-catalogs only showcase technologies for which the scaling readiness score is at least 8 for maturity of the idea and 7 for the level of use.

The graph below represents visually the scaling readiness status for this technology, you can see the label of each level by hovering your mouse cursor on the number.

Scaling readiness score of this technology

Maturity of the idea 6 out of 9

Semi-controlled environment: testing

Level of use 3 out of 9

By the whole project team + project partners

Maturity of the idea										Level of use
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9

Countries with a green colour: Tested & adopted
Countries with a bright green colour: Adopted
Countries with a yellow colour: Tested
Countries with a blue colour: Testing ongoing

Countries where the technology is being tested or has been tested and adopted
Country	Testing ongoing	Tested	Adopted
Benin	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Burkina Faso	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Ghana	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted
Mali	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Senegal	–No ongoing testing	–Not tested	Adopted
Togo	–No ongoing testing	Tested	Adopted

This technology can be used in the colored agro-ecological zones. Any zones shown in white are not suitable for this technology.

Agro-ecological zones where this technology can be used
AEZ	Subtropic - warm	Subtropic - cool	Tropic - warm	Tropic - cool
Arid	–	–	–	–
Semiarid	–	–	–	–
Subhumid
Humid

Source: HarvestChoice/IFPRI 2009

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals that are applicable to this technology.

Goal 12: responsible production and consumption

Goal 15: life on land

Formulation: The biopesticide is typically available in powder or liquid form containing viable spores of Beauveria bassiana.
Application method:
- Foliar spray is the most common approach—apply directly to the crop foliage using a knapsack sprayer, ULV sprayer or motorized mist blower.
- Ensure even coverage, especially on the undersides of leaves where pests often hide.
Timing:
- Apply in the early morning or late afternoon to protect spores from UV light degradation.
- Best used at the early stages of pest infestation to maximize effectiveness.
Environmental conditions:
- High humidity (≥ 60%) and moderate temperatures (25–40°C) favor fungal germination and pest infection.
- Avoid applying during heavy rains or drought conditions.
Compatibility:
- Can be integrated with other IPM tools like pheromone traps, resistant varieties, and cultural practices.
- Avoid mixing with chemical fungicides, as they may reduce fungal viability.
- Compatible with pyrethroids, therefore mixable with pyrethroids.
Reapplication:
- Depending on infestation levels and environmental conditions, reapply every 7–10 days as needed.