A NEW form of green bioinsecticide that will be effective against aphid pests of potatoes is set to be commercialised within the next three to four years, after successful field trials were carried out recently.
Solasta Bio's unique micro-peptide Insect Control Agents (ICAs), based on insect ‘neuropeptides’, demonstrated efficacy on par or better than commercial standards across 20 field trials on multiple crops in Europe, the UK and US during the 2023 trials season.
As well as demonstrating a high degree of efficacy, the trials also showed that beneficial insects continued to thrive in crops treated with the producer's pollinator-safe products and no adverse effects on crop health were observed.
Founded in 2020, UK-based SOLASTA Bio has developed a technology platform for creating neuropeptide-based ICAs that are nature-inspired. The company is on course to bring its first ICAs to market in 2027/2028. The technology is patent protected with further patent protection currently under submission.
Co-founder and CEO Shireen Davies said: "We're really excited by these findings which bring us one step closer to delivering safe, effective micro-peptide ICAs to market. These outstanding trial results demonstrate our ICAs consistently perform on par or better than commercial standards."
