The EIC Accelerator beneficiary Lithos Crop Protect GmbH signs an important agreement with Syngenta Biologicals to fight major corn pest in Europe.
Syngenta and Lithos Crop Protect announced early July that they have signed a distribution agreement to supply a sprayable mating disruption pheromone formulation to control a major corn pest, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera (western corn rootworm).
Syngenta Biologicals is a world leader in agricultural biologicals, bringing science-based innovation to offer growers more choice and flexibility. In addition, the company actively forms collaborations to help put innovation into the hands of farmers. An example of this is the agreement with Lithos Crop Protect GmbH, an EIC-funded Austrian company working on the crop protection product of the future.
This innovative agreement features Lithos's patented lithos micro dispenser® technology, which uses a natural carrier material with pherolit®-d (the pheromone of Diabrotica v.v. L.), a naturally derived female pheromone that causes mating disruption in corn crops for large-scale use.
The companies have now entered the next phase of their collaboration to optimise the features and benefits of this innovation and to rigorously assess its safety and efficacy.
It is important to note that the western corn rootworm is a significant threat to European agriculture, particularly in regions with continuous maize production and insecticide resistance. Its increasing prevalence poses a significant threat to the industry, exacerbated by climate change, which is accelerating its spread to new areas.
When it attacks corn crops, its larvae feed on the roots, stunting plant growth and causing significant economic losses. With increasing insecticide resistance and growing environmental concerns, there is an urgent need for new, sustainable control methods that minimise environmental impact.
Dr. Franz Reitbauer, Founder & CEO of Lithos Crop Protect GmbH stated:
The EIC funding not only helps us to cover the capital requirements until market entry but also significantly enhances our credibility and reliability towards external partners. Actually, it is precisely this kind of cooperation with strong market players like Syngenta, that is a key factor for our success
Read the press release to find out more about the partnership.
EIC Accelerator project information: micro dispensers for sustainable crop protection
The integration of pheromones into pest management methods is possible through technological innovations in agriculture. In this context, the EU-funded Micro Dispensers project is developing a method based on the application of specific pheromones (marketed under the brand name pherolit®) on high-quality mineral zeolite clinoptilolite, a natural mineral extracted and processed from its source by the company Lithos, to optimise its unique properties of binding and releasing pheromones. This technology is safe for users and it is affordable and easy to use, as it can be dispensed through any conventional spraying device. It also has a slow-release mechanism that allows for a long-term effect. In addition, it targets specific pest species without affecting other organisms, prevents pests from developing resistance, and uses natural ingredients.
Discover more details on the dedicated page on Cordis.
DISCLAIMER: This information is provided in the interest of knowledge sharing and should not be interpreted as the official view of the European Commission, or any other organisation.