Exosect initiates first full scale trial of leading-edge biopesticide to control grain store insects

April 24, 2012 - PRLog -- Winchester, UK – Intelligent Pest Management Company Exosect, today announced the commencement of the first full scale trials of its pioneering technology for controlling insects in grain stores. The technology has been developed as a result of a UK government funded project which commenced six years ago with the objective of developing a sustainable technology to replace pesticides and key fumigants which were being removed from the market, methyl bromide being a well-known example. As a result, insect control in this industry is hugely challenging and post-harvest grain losses caused by insect damage can be significant.

The new product comprises Exosect’s platform technology, Entostat powder, (a unique food grade wax powder which acts as a delivery mechanism for a range of active ingredients), and the entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana*. Exosect has exclusive rights to an isolate of this particular fungi which kills grain beetles, weevils and other stored grain insects.

The trials are being carried out in the UK, in full size grain stores along with three of the projects collaborators, CABI*, FERA* and Check Services*.  Realistic application tools will be used and the data obtained from the trials will be used for the first ever regulatory dossier for this type of product.

Exosect’s CEO, Martin Brown, comments, “Recent figures estimate global post-harvest grain losses due to insect pest damage to be upwards of 30%. With the importance of global food security, finding ways to reduce the amount of food wasted is as important as finding ways to grow more.  These trials mark another significant step towards reducing post-harvest losses in grain storage and this product has the potential to be applied to other major stored commodities”.


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Background information
*Entostat powder is the platform technology for Exosect’s entire range of products. Derived from a natural ‘food grade’ wax which is harvested from a sustainably farmed palm tree, Entostat powder acts as a delivery system for a wide range of active ingredients.
As the name suggests “Entostat” powder exhibits electrostatic properties. Even through very slight movement, it develops an electrostatic charge. Insects similarly develop an electrostatic charge as they fly through air or walk across physical surfaces. When placed in contact with insects, the powder adheres to them and can be passed from one insect to another through direct contact. This platform enables the use of very low doses of active ingredient which helps reduce the use of chemicals in a wide range of sectors.

*Beauveria bassiana is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and is pathogenic to a range of arthropod species.


Notes to Editors
About Exosect
Exosect is focused on the development of Intelligent Pest Management solutions. Its innovative and cost-effective products help growers, food manufacturers and processors to actively reduce their use of pesticides. These products are used globally in a wide range of sectors including crop protection (agriculture, horticulture and stored products), apiculture and public health. Exosect is a SOFHT (Society of Food Hygiene and Technology) award winner, a category winner in the Guardian Global Cleantech 100 awards and a finalist in the Agrow Awards. This and further news is available at: www.exosect.com

Our mission is to discover, develop & commercialise, safe, sustainable bio-conventional control solutions for the food industry, that protect food from insect damage and disease whilst reducing use of and dependence on traditional chemical pest control products.

About FERA
The Food and Environment Research Agency's overarching purpose is to support and develop a sustainable food chain, a healthy natural environment, and to protect the global community from biological and chemical risks.
Our role within that is to provide robust evidence, rigorous analysis and professional advice to Government, international organisations and the private sector.
Climate change, food security and environmental sustainability are presenting the UK and indeed all other countries around the world, with significant, complex and often interrelated challenges. The Food and Environment Research Agency plays a vital role, increasingly on a world stage, in anticipating the issues, assessing the risks and gathering the evidence to guide policy response. For further information please visit www.fera.defra.gov.uk

About CABI
CABI is a not-for-profit international organization that improves people’s lives by providing information and applying scientific expertise to solve problems in agriculture and the environment. Our mission and direction is influenced by our member countries who help guide the activities we undertake. These include scientific publishing, development projects and research, and microbial services.

About Check Services
Check Services Ltd provides a wide range of pest control services to commercial premises, specialising in the Food and Allied Industries. Check Services can supply bespoke services designed to suit the client’s specific requirements.
They service a number of well-known hotel chains, supermarkets and food manufacturing companies including some of the largest bakeries, mills and cereal manufacturers in the UK.
They are extremely experienced in dealing with third party auditors, providing services that comply with customers' requirements. Their on-site service and reporting systems are regularly audited by various organisations including: Food Industry - BRC, AIB, Marks and Spencer, EFSIS, Soil Association and Tesco. Pharmaceutical Industry - FDA, MRHA. For further information please visit http://www.checkservices.co.uk

For further information please contact: Georgina Donovan at Exosect.
Tel: 02380 603939 or email: georgina.donovan@exosect.com