Biopesticides are essential tools in sustainable agriculture and do not harm the soil, water supply, or wildlife, including beneficial insects. This is one of the main advantages of introducing them into an environmentally friendly farming system. In recent years, the use of biopesticides has increased substantially throughout the world, including Bangladesh, considering human health and environmental factors. With increased environmental awareness, more integrated pest management (IPM) efforts, widening of organic farming, more research and development (R&D) of biopesticides, the use of synthetic pesticides, especially in the case of insecticides, is showing a declining trend, whereas the biopesticide market is growing. Extensive and systematic R&D on the mass production, storage, transport, and application of biopesticides have improved in Bangladesh's public and private sectors to enhance commercial production and use. Data show that the use of chemical pesticides is decreasing in the country due to IPM techniques, balanced use of fertilizers, and growing awareness of pesticide use and training. However, biopesticides are faced with challenges in Bangladesh related to formulation, registration, marketing, acceptance and adoption, as well as the costs when compared to chemical pesticides. There is great potential to replace toxic chemical pesticides with biopesticides in the near future if production protocols can be standardized and the private sector becomes more active. The use of biopesticide-based pest management systems should be accelerated to reduce pest management costs with the minimum risks or hazards to humans and their environment. This review paper gives an overview of biopesticide development, production, policy acts, evolution and trends, commercialization, and applications in sustainable agriculture, including by small-scale farmers.
Keywords: Bangladesh, pesticides, pest, integrated pest management (IPM), organic agriculture