Insecticides are used to combat the spread of insects and other pests such as ticks and mites that pass diseases on to humans and animals, and cause damage to crops. An effective insecticide is reliable, safe and cost-effective.
However, insects and other pests are becoming increasingly resistant to current insecticides that have been misused or have been in use for many years. This lowers the number of insecticides at the disposal of the agricultural sector as well as public health agencies, placing additional pressure on and further threatening the long-term efficacy of the remaining products.
Many of the insecticide classes in use have toxicity profiles that pose mounting human and environmental problems. Consumer concerns about the use of insecticides in the food chain have increased. Several active ingredients have been withdrawn from use due to human health and eco-toxicity concerns, which is reducing the industry’s product portfolio further. New classes of insecticides are required to combat the growing issue of toxicity and insecticide resistance.
Bio-Gene has developed a platform technology with a novel mode of action that could offer a new range of safe, effective insecticides.
