Bugs and germs are big problems—and they’re evolving. Each year, 2,300 people in the U.S. die from drug-resistant bacterial infections and farmers lose billions of dollars of crops to insects that evade pesticides. But there is reason for hope. In the fight to protect our food and health, bugs and germs may also be part of the solution. Natural Defense by veteran science writer Emily Monosson is the first book to bring readers into this exciting new world.

A follow-up to her “eye-opening” (Guardian) book Unnatural Selection, Natural Defense explores how scientists around the world are innovating alternative solutions to our chemical arsenal, employing bacteria-killing viruses to stop dangerous infections and beneficial bacteria to protect against crop disease. Bringing together ecology and the latest advancements in technology, these emerging solutions give hope for a healthier and more sustainable future.

Check out Chapter 4: The Enemy of Our Enemy is Our Friend: Replacing Pesticides with Nature's Chemistry below.