Provivi and Syngenta Crop Protection launch pheromone-based technology Nelvium™ to control detrimental rice pests

Date:03-23-2022

In a ground-breaking collaboration, Provivi, a leading provider of pheromone-based crop protection solutions, and Syngenta Crop Protection, one of the world’s leading agriculture companies, announce the commercialization of Nelvium™, a new mating disruption solution, to effectively and more safely control detrimental pests in rice. This crop serves as the primary energy source for half of the world’s people.

While pheromones have been utilized in agriculture for more than 30 years as a pest control method, this will be the first time this innovation has been applied to rice in Indonesia, the world’s third-largest rice producer and one of the world’s biggest rice consumers.

“We are committed to accelerating innovation that drives sustainable agriculture practices, and we’re very excited by the potential of this partnership with Provivi,” said Corey Huck, Head of Global Biologicals at Syngenta Crop Protection. “Pheromones will be an exciting new addition to our portfolio, providing farmers with greater choices in managing insect resistance, reducing pesticide residue in crops, and addressing consumer demands. Our launch in Indonesia is a key milestone; we look forward to exploring more opportunities to introduce Nelvium™, as well as other technologies, in partnership with Provivi.”

Pheromones are natural signaling compounds that effectively control pests by interfering with their mating behaviors, preventing pest reproduction. Because they are non-toxic and species-specific, pheromones do not harm organisms that pose zero threat, therefore helping preserve the diversity and abundance of beneficial insects and pollinators.

The benefits of using pheromones in an integrated pest management program include their highly specific target activity and a mode of action, preventing, instead of eliminating, thereby supporting the preservation of biodiversity and the flourishing of non-target species. Pheromone solutions provide a foundation service in insect control, ensuring the natural technologies are able to maximize the validity and scalability of pest management systems, significantly decreasing the development of resistant populations.

“Provivi is developing the Pheron^® family of functional and cost-effective products for pheromone-based solutions to serve as a foundation for integrated pest management in the staple crops that feed the world,” said Pedro Coelho, Co-Founder and CEO of Provivi. “We are delighted to enter the market launch phase of our multi-year collaboration with Syngenta in Indonesia to help growers combat the extraordinary challenges caused by rice stem borers.”