Proof of concept for a new insecticidal soap

以天然脂肪酸为基础的杀虫皂多年前就已为人所知，并被批准用于控制多种昆虫。然而，它们的应用受到严重限制，因为如果它们的浓度超过2%，它们会对植物本身造成广泛的损害。在美国等一些市场，这意味着它们的使用受到严格限制，而且通常没有替代品，尤其是“有机”作物。我们已经开发了一种新的改性杀虫皂，并表明它在控制一系列昆虫方面同样有效，但在4 - 6%的施用量下不会产生植物毒性。我们对潜在的应用进行了详细的市场调查，在申请发明专利方面获得了支持，并确定了有意将产品推向市场的潜在合作伙伴公司。该奖项将使我们能够进行最初的小规模配方工作和田间试验，以提供一个完整的概念证明，该产品可以以商业上可接受的成本生产，它是一种非常有效的杀虫剂（对抗一系列物种，如螨，蓟马，蚜虫和粉虱），它显示出低的植物毒性（对一些敏感植物，如藤蔓，桃子，油桃，黄瓜，观赏植物，辣椒等）。茄子)，并且有一条明确的市场路线，有合作伙伴公司提供供应安全，并向英国、欧洲、美国和发展中国家的市场分销。

Insecticidal soaps, based on natural fatty acids, have been known for many years and areapproved for use in controlling a wide range of insects. However, their application is severelylimited by the fact that, if they are applied at a concentration above 2 %, they can causeextensive damage to the plant itself. In some markets, such as the US, this has meant that theiruse has been severely restricted, and often there is no alternative available, particularly for'organic' crops. We have developed a novel modified insecticidal soap and shown that it isequally effective in controlling a range of insects, but that it causes no phytotoxicity at 4 - 6 %application levels. We have carried out a detailed market survey of potential applications,have been provided with support in patenting the invention, and identified potential partnercompanies keen to take the product to market. This award would allow us to take the initialsmall scale formulation work and field trials we have already done to provide a completedproof of concept that the product can be produced at a commercially acceptable cost, that it isa very effective insecticide (against a range of species such as mites, thrip, aphids andwhitefly), that it shows low phytotoxicity (towards a number of sensitive plants such as vines,peach, nectarine, cucumber, ornamentals, peppers, aubergine) and that there is a clear route tomarket, with partner companies in place to provide security of supply, and distribution intomarkets in the UK, Europe, US and the developing world.