Exosect makes breakthrough in systemic delivery of insecticide with Acetamiprid

Exosect Ltd. recently announced that it has made a breakthrough in the systemic delivery of insecticide. Acetamiprid, a neonicotinoid, was successfully delivered as a seed treatment using Exosect’s proprietary formulation platform, Entostat®.  The systemic activity of the formulation delivers control of aphids feeding on plant foliage. No phytotoxicity was observed.

Acetamiprid is a neonicotinoid insecticide that exhibits very low toxicity to bees, however, it has not currently been developed as a seed treatment.

Since 2013 in the EU, three neonicotinoid insecticides, Clothianidin, Imidacloprid and Thiamethoxam, have been prohibited from use on outdoor crops attractive to bees and on cereals due to their possible link to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and pollinator decline. The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), is due to make a final decision on the regulatory status of these three insecticides in January 2017 after reviewing all research.

Since the restrictions came into force, European growers reliant on neonicotinoids have been forced to apply older chemistry. In particular, growers of Oilseed Rape (Canola) have had to find alternative ways of managing the potentially devastating Cabbage Stem Flea Beetle (CSFB), (Psylliodes chrysocephala). According to a report published in August 2015 by Rural Business Research (RBR), autumn insecticide use against CSFB increased by 250% in England alone since 2013. 90% percent of growers surveyed used the pyrethroids, Cypermethrin and Lambda-Cyhalothrin.

Ironically, pyrethroids are known to have high toxicity to aquatic organisms and bees leading to increased concern about water quality, specifically compliance with the EU Water Framework Directive. More recently, a number of pyrethroids are considered possible endocrine disruptors.

Exosect’s Chief Technology Officer, Dr. Aoife Dillon, comments “We are continuing an intensive programme to develop lean formulations of biological and synthetic active ingredients. The successful reformulation of Acetamiprid is especially interesting as the Entostat platform has delivered systemic activity”.

The reformulation of Acetamiprid comes as part of a wider reformulations programme. Using its lean formulation technology, Exosect is increasing its expertise delivering lower levels of active ingredients for more targeted delivery which is opening up opportunities for differentiation for partners.