Mycoparasitic Marvels: Trichoderma's Role in Sustainable Pest Solutions

India is an agriculture based country. About 65% of the country’s population is engaged in agriculture and its allied activities. With the exponential increase in the population necessity for exponential productivities have forced us towards indiscriminate use of pesticides and fertilizers resulting in disturbed soil composition, fertility and microflora. As the population is increasing exponentially it is necessary that the yield also parallelly increases. Amid the growing challenges of global warming, agriculture has been the most affected sector. The growing climate change, use of chemicals, affects the quality of the yield. Another setback is the degrading fertility of soil. So it is necessary to find an alternative to improve the quality and quantity of yield while protecting the fertility of the soil. Disturbed microflora has given birth to new pests and diseases posing a significant threat to agricultural productivity. The most common agricultural pests are Cotton bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera), Tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci), Two-spotted spider mite (Tetranychus urticae) etc. Chemicals such as glyphosate, acephate, DEET, propoxur, metaldehyde, boric acid, diazinon, Dursban, DDT, and malathion are being widely used to combat infestations of these organisms. Although these chemicals are effective, they ultimately find their way to the human gut and animals causing serious health concerns. This resulted in the need to explore novel alternatives to these substances. Recent advancements in the field of biotechnology has led to the use of microorganism based fertilizers and pesticides. It is both environmentally sustainable and an effective method. Trichoderma is a genus of fungi renowned for its significant contributions to agriculture and environmental management. These remarkable microorganisms play a vital role in sustainable farming practices by effectively controlling plant pathogens, enhancing soil health, and promoting plant growth. Their ability to suppress diseases and improve nutrient uptake makes them indispensable allies in the quest for environmentally friendly agricultural solutions. Studies conducted to date have demonstrated that Trichoderma can directly control insect pests through mechanisms such as parasitism and the production of insecticidal secondary metabolites, antifeedant compounds, and repellent metabolites. Consequently, the use of Trichoderma in agriculture proves to be effective not only against plant pathogens but also against insect pests, highlighting its potential as a sustainable alternative for future agricultural practices. This study is based on development of low cost production medium and formulation to be applied directly in the field or on seeds to help build agri-economics.