Exosect secures an exclusive licence for a fungal isolate of Beauveria bassiana from Fera, the UK’s Food, Environment and Research Agency

Winchester, UK - Intelligent Pest Management Company, Exosect, announced today that it has secured an exclusive licence for an isolate of the entomopathogenic fungi, Beauveria bassiana (Bb) from Fera, the UK’s Food, Environment and Research Agency. The licence covers grain and food storage in Europe with rights to extend to other uses globally.

This deal follows a five year government funded research programme, led by Exosect researching alternative insecticides for the control of pests in stored grain along with Sylvan Bio, CABI and Fera. It leads on from the announcement last year of a collaborative agreement between Exosect and Sylvan Bio, the specialist in fungal based solid substrate fermentation and one of the consortium members, to develop a formulation of an isolate of Beauveria bassiana* (Bb) and Exosect’s platform technology, Entostat™*

Martin Brown, Managing Director at Exosect comments, “This is another significant leap forward for this project. We know that the grain store industry is under immense pressure after the removal of a number of key insecticides and fumigants but we are on track to commercialise this exciting new technology into this sector in the near future”.

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Background information

Exosect forms collaborative agreement with Sylvan Bio

Exosect present update on mycoinsecticide project at bio-control conference

Pioneering green grain store pest control product moves closer to commercialisation

Exosect joins defra consortium to create new bio-pesticide solution for stored grain pests

*Beauveria bassiana is a fungus that grows naturally in soils throughout the world and can act as a parasite on various arthropod species.

*Entostat powder is the platform technology for Exosect’s entire range of products. Derived from a natural ‘food grade’ wax which is sustainably harvested from palm trees, Entostat powder acts as a delivery system for a wide range of chemistry. As the name suggests “Entostat” powder exhibits electrostatic properties. Even through very slight movement, it develops an electrostatic charge. Insects similarly develop an electrostatic charge as they fly through air or walk across physical surfaces. When placed in contact with insects, the powder adheres to them and can be passed from one insect to another through direct contact. This patented platform enables the use of very low doses of active ingredient and has potential applications in many sectors.

Notes to Editors

About Exosect

Exosect is focused on the development of Intelligent Pest Management solutions. Its innovative and cost-effective products help growers, food manufacturers and processors to actively reduce their use of pesticides. These products are used globally in a wide range of sectors including crop protection (agriculture, horticulture and stored products), apiculture and public health. Exosect is a SOFHT (Society of Food Hygiene and Technology) award winner, a category winner in the Guardian Global Cleantech 100 awards and a finalist in the Agrow Awards. This and further news is available at: www.exosect.com

Exosect Mission to discover, develop & commercialise, safe, sustainable bio-conventional control solutions for the food industry, that protect food from insect damage and disease whilst reducing use of and dependence on traditional chemical pest control products

For further information please contact: Georgina Donovan at Exosect. Tel: 02380 603939 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it