Due to the increased pesticide or fungicide tolerance, more agricultural chemicals were put into use, which caused the accumulation of residual chemicals, reduced the soil fertility and debased product quality. With the rapid development of biotechnology and the cognition of sustainable development in Agricultural field, Biologics, especially the active microbial pesticides have been the important parts of solution for crop protection and soil health. Microbial pesticides refer to the pesticide with living organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa or genetically modified microorganisms as effective components, including Bacillus, Streptomyces, Pseudomonas, etc. Bacillus is the most widely used microorganism in pesticide field, until June 2022, there are 94 products of Bacillus subtilis were registered in China, followed by Bacillus cereus (26 products) and Trichoderma spp. (22 products). 

Microbial pesticides have a number of advantages over chemical drugs. They are generally safer for humans and animals, leave less residue and contamination, highly selective, and more difficult for pests to develop resistance to them.  

Bayer is thus seeking new active microbial pesticides to control bacteria, along with fungicides and nematicides. In addition to combating pests, these can also improve soil compaction and salinization.