Controlled release products for managing insect pests.

From 1900–2000, the global human population grew by more than 400%, from 1.5 to 6.1 billion (Roser, 2015). The demands that the current population places upon global food supplies presents what may be one of the greatest challenges of the modern age. To support such a large population in a reliable, sustainable manner, productivity of agricultural crops will have to be improved significantly, most likely through multiple means (development of new, higher-yield crops; more efficient water use; improved cropping systems). One active area of research is the development of more effective methods of agricultural pest management.