How Bioactive Compounds from Brazilian Native Flora of Biopesticide Potential Can Guide Circular Bioeconomy and Sustainability in Agrifood Systems
Pedro Henrique Thimotheu Chaves, Anna Paula Azevedo de Carvalho, Carlos Adam Conte‐Júnior
Abstract
High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Conventional pesticides, extensively used in agriculture, pose environmental and human health concerns due to their toxicity and bioaccumulation. As sustainable alternatives, biopesticides derived from Brazilian native flora and agro-industrial residues have gained prominence for integrated pest management. This narrative review investigates the pesticidal potential of edible and nonedible plant parts and their alignment with circular bioeconomy strategies. We classified by the type of pesticidal effect (e.g., antifungal, insecticidal, herbicidal, acaricidal, and others). The main bioactive classes reported were flavonoids, terpenes, alkaloids, and phenolic compounds, showing selective activity against phytopathogens such as Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp., and Aceria guerreronis . Promising technological strategies included ultrasound-assisted extraction using green solvents, nanoemulsions of essential oils (e.g., Baccharis reticularia ) for repellent activity, and volatile organic compound profiling from endophytic fungi (e.g., Induratia spp.) from coffee stems with nematicidal and antifungal effects. Arundo donax was identified for its allelopathic potential, although ecological risks must be considered due to its invasive nature. While antifungal activity is the most frequently reported, other pesticidal classes, especially nematicidal, acaricidal, and herbicidal, remain underexplored and require further validation through in vivo and field studies. Furthermore, most studies relied on in vitro assays; future work must address in vivo efficacy, environmental persistence, safety to nontarget organisms, and scalability of bioactive production. These findings support the role of plant-based biopesticides in sustainable agriculture, aligned with green chemistry principles, and the transition toward a circular bioeconomy.