Russell IPM wins 2018’s Queen’s Award for innovation

 

For over 30 years, North Wales-based manufacturer Russell IPM has been supplying insect pheromones and traps, biostimulants and biopesticides for agriculture. The company’s culture of anticipating and developing scientific solutions for the latest global pest epidemics has solidified its presence as a British centre of excellence. In 2012, the company was awarded a Queen’s Award for Innovation for its Ferolite trap that aids the horticultural industry in controlling infestations of the devastating tomato pest, Tuta absoluta. In 2018, Russell IPM have been awarded a second award for developing a unique trap against the western flower thrips, a pest that has been destroying crops in the UK and across the world.
 

As the challenges in producing fresh fruits and vegetables become ever more complex due to market demand for chemical-free groceries as well as inability to protect crops with pesticides because of insect resistance, more growers and farmers turn to ecologically-sound plant protection products. The award-winning solution developed by Russell IPM meets this market reality by using a natural approach to pest control, which significantly reduces the need for pesticides. It comprises a range of scientifically enhanced sticky roller traps for the control of whitefly and Thrips species. After years of rigorous testing around the world, Russell IPM has identified the specific colour spectra and patterns that attract these insects, and has enhanced the attraction by incorporating pheromones directly into the adhesive surface of the roller traps. As a result, the attraction of target pests to the traps has been significantly increased, and the traps have proven to reduce crop damage and increase grower returns. Consumers, in turn, are rewarded with higher-class produce without pesticide residues. 
 

The award-winning roller traps, Optiroll and Actiroll, come in several varieties and sizes and are available through Russell IPM and its distributors around the world. New traps are in development to target other pests, such as pepper weevil, and Actiroll 12M, which is active in greenhouses for 12 months, making it perfect for greenhouses and year-round application.
 

“This recognition of our roller traps as a game-changing product by the Queens Awards’ committee comes at the right time, as fruit and vegetable growers struggle to meet the growing consumer demand for organic and clean produce. Russell IPM is proud of its speciality solutions that always target the biggest environmental challenges in agriculture,” said Marketing Manager Elitsa Yakimov.
 

“Innovation is at the heart of what we do,” added Dr Nayem Hassan, Director of Research and Development.
 

Managing Director, Dr Shakir Al-Zaidi, commented on receiving this year’s award: “I am delighted that our research and development work has been recognised through the Queen’s Awards for a third time in the company’s history. This gives us the motivation to continue in our efforts to providing clean, effective and innovative solutions to the markets we serve.”