Virtual Booth

The rapid escalation of synthetic chemical pesticide usage in modern agriculture has led to severe ecological consequences, including persistent groundwater contamination, loss of biodiversity, and the accumulation of toxic residues in food chains. Concurrently, agro-industrial sectors generate millions of tons of organic waste annually, with avocado (Persea americana) seeds being routinely discarded into landfills, where they undergo anaerobic decomposition and generate harmful greenhouse gases. This project introduces a sustainable, circular-economy innovation by upcycling discarded avocado seeds into a high-efficiency, biodegradable biopesticide spray. 

The methodology utilizes a dual-solvent hydro-ethanolic extraction system designed to maximize the recovery of active secondary metabolites. Avocado seeds were finely processed and macerated in 70% isopropyl alcohol for 72 to 120 hours to extract hydrophobic alkaloids and tannins, yielding a potent phytochemical tincture. Separately, an aqueous carrier phase was synthesized by emulsifying 5.0 mL of 100% pure cold-pressed neem oil with 5.0 mL of biodegradable liquid Castile soap in 500 mL of distilled water. Merging these two phases created a highly stable Master Blend Concentrate. For field deployment, a 1:33 dilution ratio (30 mL concentrate per 1,000 mL water) was established as the optimum working solution. 

The primary novelty of this innovation lies in its formulation architecture. While conventional botanical extracts suffer from rapid degradation and short shelf-lives (typically under 14 days), the integrated alcohol-fraction matrix in this formulation serves as a natural stabilizer, extending product viability for up to six months without synthetic chemical preservatives. Furthermore, the combination of neurotoxic alkaloids from the avocado seed with the hormone-disrupting azadirachtin from the pure neem oil creates a powerful multi-action biocide targeting soft-bodied agricultural pests. 

Environmentally, the biopesticide boasts a short ecological half-life, degrading rapidly via ambient UV exposure and microbial action into harmless organic matter, resulting in a zero-pollution footprint in both air and soil ecosystems. This project directly addresses United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action). By transforming a zero-value agricultural waste product into an accessible, low-cost green technology, this innovation offers a commercially viable, ecologically safe alternative for smallholder farmers and urban gardeners in Malaysia. 

Keywords: Persea americana, Biopesticide, Agro-industrial waste, Circular economy, Azadirachtin, Sustainable agriculture.