Exosect, a technology provider of environmentally conscious insect pest control, announced that it has joined a Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)consortium to create new bio pesticide solutions for stored grain pests. .The research partners are Central Science Laboratory (CSL) and CABI Bioscience. The industrial partners include Marks & Spencer, RHM, Smiths Flour Mills, BOCM Pauls, Igrox, Sylvan Somycel, Linnaeus and Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA).
The four-year LINK project led by CSL aims to overcome the remaining technical, regulatory and cultural barriers to the use of biopesticides for the control of storage pest insects. If successful, this technology will provide a viable replacement for organophosphorus pesticides. This project is sponsored by Defra through the Sustainable Arable LINK Programme and is part funded by HGCA. A major part of the project will involve ongoing consultation with the regulatory authorities (including Pesticides Safety Directorate) to ensure that the research work meets the required criteria for regulatory approval.
Exosect’s Managing Director, Martin Brown noted, "The timing could not be better as we are working with a number of other collaborators on biological techniques using Exosect’s patented powder as a more effective delivery system for insect pest control."
Exosect’s powder delivery technique, called Exolure Auto-Dissemination, is a targeted delivery system for lure and kill, using low doses of active ingredients, which can be chemical insecticides or natural biocides. Combined with Exosect’s powders, low dosages of active ingredient are disseminated throughout the insect pest population/colony/harbourage of the target insect pest. The benefits of Exolure are simplified application, reduced costs, improved efficacy and longevity of the biological agents, resulting in less active ingredient being applied to stored grain and in the environment.
Dr John Chambers, Research Team Leader at CSL remarked, "CSL and CABI Bioscience are delighted to be awarded a grant for this vital research project. With such a broad array of consortium members, both industrial and scientific, we are confident of taking a major step towards a market driven natural solution to grain pest control to replace conventional pesticides."
The continuing pressure for the reduction of chemical insecticide use has increased the interest in the use of biological methods for insect pest control. The model agent to be studied in this project occurs naturally in
Brown explains, "As part of our on-going research we have been working on ways to enhance both the field life and spore germination efficiency of these fungal spores to increase their efficacy in pest control. We are very excited to be part of this government-sponsored consortium, working with leaders in their fields to create viable solutions to manage these pests in grain storage environments. In particular, we will be working with our partners to further develop our Exolure auto-dissemination technology.
Exosect to Assist in Development of Bio Pesticide Solutions For Stored Grain Pests
Exosect announced that it has joined a Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) consortium to create new bio pesticide solutions for stored grain pests.