Exosect partners with industry and researchers to control beetle pests in pulse crops

WINCHESTER, U.K. - Nov. 17, 2014 - PRLog -- Exosect, a leading provider of enabling technologies today announced that it is a member of a new collaborative research programme which aims to combat beetle and weevil pests that damage pulse crops. The project is partially funded by Innovate UK and the BBSRC with additional support from industry partners PGRO, Rothamsted Research, Oecos and BASF plc.

Launched recently by the PGRO, the focus of the project is to develop a Lure & Kill system using Exosect’s electrostatic micro-powder technology to enable the targeted delivery of a range of active ingredients including beetle specific attractive odours (semio-chemicals), reduced quantities of currently registered insecticides and spores of entomopathogenic fungi, to the crop pests.

Following discussions with growers over recent years, it has become apparent that current control using spray applications have become less effective” says Becky Ward, Principal Technical Officer at PGRO, “We believe this is either due to increasing pest pressure, or possibly decreased efficacy of pyrethroid insecticides”

Exosect’s CEO, Martin Brown, comments, “This exciting research project with PGRO and industry partners enables Exosect to leverage the knowledge gained from seven years of successfully developing the Entostat platform to deliver fungal spores to control insects in stored commodities, coupled with the company’s experience in Lure & Kill systems”.

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Background information

Pea & Bean Weevil (Sitona lineatus) & Bruchid beetle (Bruchus rufimanus)
Damage caused by the weevil adult is visible as notching around the leaf margins and, although this damage doesn’t usually significantly affect yield, the eggs laid during feeding produce larvae which feed in the nitrogen-fixing root nodules of peas and beans, resulting in yield loss. Damage caused by bruchid beetle is visible as holes in the seed, affecting quality and value to the grower.

Entostat
Entostat is an electrostatically charged micro-powder. A leading variant of Entostat is based on a carnauba wax blend that is chemically inert.
This variant of Entostat is sustainably harvested from the Brazilian Carnauba palm, Copernica Martius (Palmae). Other variants may include a range of natural and synthetic waxes and polymers.

Entostat is a non-hygroscopic electrostatic micro-powder that can be produced in a range of sizes and shapes. It can be formulated to microencapsulate synthetic active ingredients offering release retardation or to support biological active ingredients on its surface by electrostatic attraction.

Entostat readily gains an electrostatic charge, consequently it adheres to a range of surfaces including, grains and seeds, insects & animals, building fabrics.

It therefore has the potential to deliver an active ingredient at a reduced application rate with equivalent or improved efficacy, improved shelf life and improved efficiency.

About PGRO (The Processor & Growers Research Organisation)
PGRO is a non statutory levy body which is the UK’s centre of excellence for peas and beans. It has a long history and a well-earned reputation for stability and consistency - along with a track record of providing authoritative, up to date information and project work based on solid, reliable research.

About Rothamsted Research
Rothamsted is the longest running agricultural research station in the world, providing cutting-edge science and innovation for nearly 170 years.

Our mission is to deliver the knowledge and new practices to increase crop productivity and quality and to develop environmentally sustainable solutions for food and energy production.
No single approach can deliver sustainable agriculture with high productivity and value. A broad perspective that encompasses the whole plant system is needed and a careful balance of approaches is required. Rothamsted integrates biotechnology with other areas of science such as agronomy and agro-ecology so both existing and new knowledge can be implemented through agricultural practice. Our strength therefore lies in our integrated, multidisciplinary approach to research in plant and soil science.

About BASF Plc
BASF is the world’s leading chemical company. With more than 112,000 employees and 383 sites worldwide we serve customers and partners in almost all countries of the world.

We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through research and innovation, we support our customers in nearly every industry in meeting the current and future needs of society.

Through our new Functional Crop Care business, BASF is broadening what it means to protect crops. We are harnessing innovations in chemistry and biology in three focus areas in order to help growers be successful into the future: Soil Management, Seed Solutions & Crop Care. Building on the best of biology and chemistry innovation, BASF is providing growers with a range of solutions that go beyond traditional crop protection, including foliar biological control products, biological and conventional Plant Health products and Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs). In 2013, BASF posted sales of €74.0 billion and income before special items of approximately €7.2 billion.

About Exosect
In 2001 Exosect was launched to develop proprietary platform technologies, initially for Agriculture.
The company has developed an in-depth knowledge and extensive patent portfolio of the platforms as targeted delivery mechanisms for a range of active ingredients, biological and synthetic.

Today, the technology is enabling partners across a range of sectors to realise the efficient delivery of their active ingredients.
Exosect is focussed on the Agriculture, Public Health and Animal Health sectors.