Harnessing Natural Fungi to Control Insect and Mite Pests in Grain Storage

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Harnesssing Natural Fungi to Protect Grain from Insect Pests: Customers want food products to be residue-free and grain producers want to eliminate the risk of using chemicals in controlling pest and diesese infestations. Grain storage protection against insect pests is notoriously difficult. Exosect is developing a highly effective grain treatment using an indigenous isolate of an insect-specific fungus, Beauveria bassiana, (Bb) formulated with electrostatically charged wax particles. These particles help stick the fungal spores to the insect which gives the fungus time to kill the insect. The treatment is expected to achieve 90%+ control on a range of key grain insect pests. To address consumer and food producer concerns about the use of ‘friendly fungi’, Exosect will consult with industry experts and trade associations in order to prove that the product exceeds strict safety standards, performs to high commercial standards and is cost effective without causing any taint to food.