Recent Advances in Stored Grains Pest Management through Eco-Friendly Technologies and Monitoring Tools: A Review

Abstract

Stored product pests cause significant post-harvest losses globally, threatening food security, grain quality, and economic returns. Conventional control methods, predominantly reliant on chemical fumigants and insecticides such as phosphine and methyl bromide, have raised concerns due to pesticide resistance, environmental contamination, and human health hazards. In response, recent advancements emphasize the development and implementation of eco-friendly pest management technologies and advanced monitoring tools within the Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Botanical pesticides, including essential oils and plant extracts, have demonstrated insecticidal and repellent properties with reduced ecological footprint. Biological control agents, such as Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae, and parasitoids like Anisopteromalus calandrae, offer species-specific suppression of pest populations. Physical methods including modified atmospheres, temperature treatments, and inert dusts provide non-residual, safe control options. Simultaneously, innovations in pest monitoring through pheromone-based traps, electronic sensors, IoT-enabled smart systems, spectroscopy, and molecular diagnostics have enabled early detection, precise intervention, and resistance monitoring. These tools enhance IPM efficiency by integrating surveillance with targeted action. National and international regulatory frameworks now promote reduced pesticide dependency and support the adoption of safer alternatives. Despite these advancements, challenges persist, such as variability in field efficacy, limited access to eco-friendly products, and the need for training among stakeholders. cost-benefit analyses reveal green technologies yield long-term economic and environmental benefits. Market trends reflect growing consumer demand for residue-free commodities, further encouraging sustainable storage practices. Continued research, technology standardization, and public-private collaboration are essential to overcoming existing barriers. Synthesizes recent developments in environmentally safe pest control strategies and monitoring tools for stored product protection, highlighting their potential to replace hazardous chemicals, enhance grain quality, and support global food safety objectives through sustainable storage management solutions.