Winchester, United Kingdom
November 17, 2016
This image shows conidia of Beauveria bassiana adhering to a speherical particle of Entostat powder
Update: Delivering viruses and fungi
Today, Researchers from Exosect, a pioneer in Lean Formulation Technology™, provided updates on two collaborative projects which are using Exosect’s lean formulation technology, Entostat®, as a delivery platform for key microbial biopesticides used in Agriculture.
At the Association of Applied Biologists Conference on Advances in IPM, Exosect Researcher, Dr Hayley Brant, today provided an update on a collaborative project with BASF, PGRO, Rothamsted Research and Oecos, which is testing the delivery of two strains of the entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana. In laboratory assays when the fungi have been formulated with the Entostat technology, both strains of Beauveria bassiana have shown to be effective at controlling the two target insect pests.
At the same conference, Exosect Researcher, Freya Scoates, provided an introduction to a project focussed on the delivery of a baculovirus, for the control of lepidopteran pests. Virus rapidly degrades under UV levels observed in field situations and frequently becomes ineffective within seventy-two hours of application. The aim of this project is to study whether Entostat as a formulation delivery platform will provide UV protection to a baculovirus and increase its longevity in the field.
Collaborators in this project include Professor Kenneth Wilson of the Lancaster Environment Centre at Lancaster University and Principal Scientist David Grzywacz of the National Resource Institute at the University of Greenwich. Both projects are funded by the UK’s Agritech Catalyst fund, administered by Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.
These project updates follow a recent announcement by Exosect, regarding the successful formulation of the beneficial bacteria, Bacillus subtilis, to animal feed pellets using Entostat as the formulation delivery platform.
Exosect’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Aoife Dillon comments,
“In 2015, biopesticide sales were estimated to be worth around $3 billion1, 2,5% of the global pesticide market2. The value of this sector is projected to increase by 14% annually during the period 2016-20203. The formulation and delivery of microbials is a challenge faced across a number of industries and, in light of the growth projections for the agricultural market alone, we are delighted to be working with our collaborators to overcome these issues using our Lean Formulation Technology”.
Entostat is a proprietary micro-powder, based on natural and/or synthetic waxes and has electrostatic properties. It is a formulation delivery platform for a wide range of synthetic and biological active ingredients. The constituents of Entostat are listed on FIFRA’s 25(b) list of inert ingredients that can be used in pesticide products that are exempt from regulation1.
The electrostatic properties of Entostat enable adhesion of active ingredient to a range of surfaces including grains, seeds and pellets, insects and animals and building fabrics.
Exosect out-licenses its intellectual property to enable others to develop a differentiated product portfolio.
REFERENCES
- Olson,S.(2013) An Analysis of the Biopesticide Market Now and Where it is Going
- Global Industry Analysts, Inc (2015) Biopesticides – A Global Business Strategy Report
- Research and Markets (2016) Global Agricultural Biologicals Market 2016-2020
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