Pyrazines as Crop Protection in Sustainable Agriculture
For people in the wine business, the term “pyrazines” will probably ring a bell. For the rest of us, it may be less familiar. Pyrazines are organic compounds made from carbon and nitrogen. It exists naturally in many plants and is even produced by some insects and microorganisms.
Many of the foods we eat, such as asparagus, bell peppers, gooseberries, and coffee beans, contain pyrazines that enhance their aroma and taste. Yet, these potent compounds have a much more vital natural function.
How Pyrazines Protect Plants
When a young plant is developing, it protects its developing fruit until the plant is ready to attract pollinators. In the early phases, the plant produces chemicals called pyrazines to deter animals (and humans) from picking the fruit and harvesting the plant for food. That is why unripe produce has a “green” taste.
Additionally, pyrazines are part of a group of chemicals called microbial volatile organic compounds (MVOCs). These chemicals are naturally antimicrobial. Pyrazine production is a plant’s defense against disease-causing bacteria and fungi. Studies1 show that pyrazines can also boost a plant’s immunity and protect it from weeds and parasites.
Pyrazines as Natural Pest Control
Pyrazines are an ideal ingredient for fungicides, pesticides, and herbicides. They can repel pests with their strong flavor and scent, and they contain nitrogen—an indispensable element for photosynthesis. Some insects also use pyrazines as alarm pheromones. Leafcutter ants, for example, produce the compound when they feel threatened, alerting others in the colony of danger. Spraying crops with these pheromones could prevent agricultural pests.
Natural pesticides with pyrazines as a primary ingredient could also support the environment more than conventional broad-spectrum sprays.
- Water contamination: Traditional pesticides are under scrutiny for their ability to contaminate freshwater sources, and many have been banned. During rainy seasons, the insecticides and other poisons used on farms leach into rivers, groundwater reserves, and lakes, detrimentally affecting the aquatic ecosystems. Pyrazine-based sprays are also water-soluble, but their ingredients are natural and safe for fish, algae, and water birds.
- Safe for humans: many of the chemicals found in synthetic pesticides are toxic, carcinogenic or irritating. Pyrazines, on the other hand, are perfectly safe for consumption, and they are in many of our foods already. Using them as pesticides simply enhances a plant’s natural defenses and will not kill beneficial pollinators or cause any harm to someone who eats the unwashed fruit.
Does the EPA Regulate Pyrazines?
When natural pesticides contain pyrazines, they are subject to EPA regulation. All pesticide manufacturers in the US must register their products with the EPA per the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
Pesticide producers must list all the ingredients and quantities in their product when applying to register. The EPA then evaluates the risks these ingredients pose to the environment, humans, and water sources before receiving commercial approval.
Using Pyrazines in Food Production
Besides the remarkable potential as natural pesticides, pyrazines are also valuable as food flavoring ingredients. They are released during cooking—similar to the Maillard Reaction. The earthy, nutty, and roasted flavors you get in many hot foods are largely the result of pyrazine accumulation.
When we make processed foods that skip this crucial stage in flavor development, we often need to add isolated flavorings to the final product. For this, you can trust Advanced Biotech’s delicious range of natural alkyl pyrazines. For more information, please contact us.
1 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15592324.2023.2227440#d1e899