Negative impacts of chemical pesticide, social demand (healthier food), organic farming organization, rising costs of inputs linked to oil market and their importation (in Africa), and the circular economy approach are a few arguments/opportunities that underlie the roll-out of alternative solutions, including botanicals. Technology readiness levels (TRLs) offer a means to rate relevance of these solutions in the process from plant identification and local knowledge to large-scale use of plant extracts. Options range from do-it-yourself (homemade preparations) - often based on smallholders' traditional know-how - to application of commercial input formulations. The constraints to be overcome vary in scope: technical (biomass availability/sustainability, extraction, chemical analysis, standardization, formulation), societal (grower and consumer perception/acceptability, labour demand, gender issue), and regulatory (adaptation, environmental/ecotoxicological aspects). The following are a few examples of TRL ratings in terrestrial insect management: aqueous extracts of Tephrosia vogelii in Malawi and Tanzania (TRL 4- 5), organic extracts in Brazil (Annonaceae, TRL 3-4), essential oils of Piper borbodense in Réunion (TRL 3-4) and of Piper aduncum in the western Amazon (TRL 5-6). In Brazil, the use of commercial formulations (Orobor, Orange Power, etc.) derived from agroindustrial residue processing (orange oil) is an example of a TRL 9 rating. Potential solutions are presented to foster individual or collective (e.g. in African villages) usage (blends, mixtures with chemical pesticides, quality control) and the pathway towards certification. In particular, the creation of specific regulatory categories (e.g. basic substance) within the framework of the European regulation EC n°1107/2009 could help facilitate the adoption/use of plant-based extracts.