US OKs Isagro's Dominus soil biofumigant

Isagro USA has received approval from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for DOMINUS®( allyl isothiocyanate), a biopesticide and pre-plant soil treatment. DOMINUS® is a broad-spectrum product that controls soil-borne fungi, nematodes, weeds and insects. DOMINUS® is registered as a biopesticide, a pesticide based on natural materials, and is the first biofumigant created for use on both conventional and organic farms. DOMINUS® has been submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for addition to the National Organic Program’s list of approved substances for organic crop production. The company expects NOP approval by 2015.

DOMINUS® is based on Isagro’s patented technology and contains the active ingredient allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), a compound created as a natural defense by plants (from glucosinolate and myrosinase interaction) and known commonly as oil of mustard. AITC was first registered by the EPA in 1962 and has been in continuous use in a variety of products including pesticides for more than 50 years. Oil of mustard is also a flavoring agent and is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and listed as Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS).

“DOMINUS® is effective and versatile and will be a welcome addition to the growers’ crop protection tools,” said Alessandro Mariani, Isagro USA President. “We are very proud to deliver DOMINUS as the first product fully developed by our USA team, capable of addressing many of the challenges facing growers today.”

Because DOMINUS® is a biopesticide based on natural plant defenses, it is considered to be inherently less toxic and therefore allows for greater ease of use than conventional fumigants. DOMINUS is applied using conventional equipment and can be applied with tractor mounted shank injection or diluted in drip injection equipment.

“DOMINUS® gives greater control back into the hands of the grower,” said Mike Allan, Global Product Manager for DOMINUS. “DOMINUS is a 96% active ingredient formulation delivering consistent control of many pests, including weed seeds, nematodes and soil-borne diseases while improving crop yield and quality.”

Since 2009 DOMINUS® has undergone rigorous testing in conjunction with university researchers primarily in California, North Carolina, Florida and Georgia; USDA–ARS and private contractors in the United States, Italy and Spain.

“DOMINUS® is an environmentally-favorable compound with a short half-life in the soil of 20 - 60 hours; leaves no residue in the soil prior to planting; and degrades rapidly if exposed to sunlight,” Allan said.

Isagro USA intends to submit DOMINUS for approval in all states. DOMINUS® will be available for use as individual states approve the product.

Isagro USA, Inc. is headquartered in Morrisville, NC (Research Triangle Park) and is a subsidiary of Isagro SpA, based in Milan, Italy. Isagro SpA is a global discoverer, manufacturer, formulator and marketer of crop protection products.