Award Winning British Discovery To Benefit UK Supermarkets

In Autumn 2005, UK Supermarkets will be able to stock British grown apples and pears on which a new pest control alternative has been used.

(PRWEB) April 21, 2005 -- Exosect, a leading technology company in insect pest control, today announced a new product for the UK market -- Exosex CM -- a mating disruption system designed to reduce damage to apples and pears by the codling moth. Exosex CM will enable the grower to reduce traditional pesticide use for the control of this major pest in orchards.

The codling moth has long been the curse of apple and pear growers the world over," explains Exosects Business Operations Director, Philip Harris. They greatly affect the quality of the crop, and their resistance to chemical pesticides is increasing. Therefore, farmers and supermarkets are in a very difficult position -- they face mounting consumer pressure for high quality goods and, at the same time, increasingly stringent legislation on minimum pesticide levels."

Crop production specialists, Hutchinsons, have recently been appointed by Exosect as the sole distributor for Exosex CM in the UK. Mike Hutchinson, a director of this family owned business, is impressed. Growers are currently reliant on a range of insecticides to maintain control of codling. We are very excited by the potential of Exosex CM to reduce this reliance and to act as an effective part of our codling control strategy. The use of Exosex CM has the added benefits of being effective over the whole risk period while also avoiding any potential resistance problems."

Exosex CM uses a synthetic female sexual pheromone to attract male codling moth into a dispenser where Exosects innovative Entostat powder, also combined with the pheromone, is located. The powder adheres to the males as they enter. The result: a state of 'Auto-Confusion - their sensors are overwhelmed, they cannot detect virgin females, they act as a false lure for other males, the mating cycle breaks down and the moth population crashes.

Supermarkets and farmers should consider Exosex CM for five major reasons:

1. Effectiveness: field trials in South Africa saw average crop damage by Codling Moth reduced to 5% when using Exosex CM, versus 15% when using traditional pesticides.

2. Environmental sensitivity: pheromones are used at levels that would occur naturally and only the target species is affected -- beneficial insect remain unharmed.

3. CSR: trials have indicated a reduction in the number of sprays per season, by up to half, especially those close to harvest.

4. Peace of mind: Exosex is the first mating disruption system that has been approved in the UK, and has verification from the Soil Association and certification from Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd.

5. Registrations: following 3 years of trial work, registration has been achieved in the USA, including California and the UK. Further registrations are pending in Israel, South Africa and in countries in the EU and South America.

Useful Links

1. Codling moth: www.exosect.com/solutions/pests/codling_moth.asp

2. EU minimum pesticide levels: europa.eu.int/comm/food/fs/sfp/ph_ps/pest/index_en.htm

3. Exosex CM: www.exosect.com/solutions/products/exosex.asp

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