Bio-Gene Technology Limited has announced that the Grains Research and Development Corporation (GRDC) will join BASF, Bio-Gene and the Department of Agriculture & Fisheries, Queensland Government (DAF), in the research program relating to stored grain pest control that was announced on 23 September 2019. The GRDC will provide financial support for the research program as well as expertise through its relationship with Australian grain producers.
The largest natural threat to the safe storage and distribution of grains is insect infestation. There is currently no single chemistry that controls all major pests that impact stored grain. Resistance in grain pests to existing chemistries is rising in Australia, and around the world. Bio-Gene’s nature identical molecule Flavocide has the potential to create formulations that will enable control of the full range of pests including pests resistant to other classes of chemistry.
The GRDC plays a vital role supporting the grains industry by investing in research development and extension (RD&E) to create enduring profitability for Australian grain growers. The GRDC is a statutory authority of the Australian Government and invests around $194 million annually in world leading research, development and extension projects to directly address constraints and capture opportunities in grain production systems and value chains.
The stored grain pest control research program now represents a four way collaborative approach with:
1. Bio-Gene Technology - to contribute the technology, funding and expertise;
2. BASF - the world’s leading chemical company, to contribute funding and expertise;
3. GRDC - Australia’s national grains RD&E investment body, to invest and contribute to industry validation; and
4. DAF - recognised experts in the field of stored grain pests, to undertake the research.
Bio-Gene Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Richard Jagger said: “We are delighted that the GRDC has chosen to collaborate with us in this research program. Importantly, we now have all the key representatives aligned with us, being a top tier global commercialisation company in BASF, Australia’s leading investor in grains RD&E in GRDC and a world class research organisation in DAF supporting a trial program to determine how to best advance the technology.
“GRDC is the leading investor in grains RD&E in Australia and the decision to support our trial program is significant because it represents notable endorsement of our technology,” he said.
GRDC Acting General Manager – Applied R&D, Dr Ken Young said: “GRDC exists to invest in RD&E to deliver enduring profitability for Australian growers with a focus on driving discoveries and innovations. This collaboration with Bio-Gene, BASF and DAF is the sort of innovative investment that growers need. The protection of stored grain against insect infestation, and the evolution of insecticide resistance in stored grain pests are increasingly significant problems for Australian grain growers, and the GRDC is encouraged by the potential of this technology.”
Globally, losses of grain in storage can reach up to 50% and are attributed to resistant pests. Insect damage and contamination can greatly reduce grain quality, incur treatment costs, and severely impact grain prices and market access. A product which introduces a new Mode of Action is critical for pest management to address increasing resistance in the future.
About the Stored Grain Trials
The proposed studies will build on the previous trials completed by Bio-Gene and undertaken by DAF in which Flavocide successfully demonstrated control of a broad range of pests.
The trials will be designed to determine commercially viable formulations including but not exclusive to:
• The best combination for broad stored grain pest control;
• The synergistic effects of combined chemistries;
• The optimum application rates for resistance management; and
• The best suited combinations to be taken to the field for residual efficacy testing.
